Tricks of the Trade: Confessions of a Bookbinder

Tricks of the Trade considers what is not taught - but probably should be - about binding and rebinding books. Written for competent binders and knowledgeable collectors, it brings quirky but effective binding techniques out of obscurity and into the professional repertory. Here are tricks binders can use to polish and refine their bindings, as well as suggestions for repairs that may add value to collections. Using photographs of her own bindings as illustrations, Jamie Kamph discusses decorative techniques, sources for design ideas, engineering concerns, and ways to both correct and avoid common mistakes. In addition to providing practical solutions, Kamph's advice delves into the grey area between technical discipline and artistic invention. Detailed instructions and drawings describe binding practices such as corner shaping, headbanding, rebacking, and recasing books. An extensive discussion of gold tooling presents the authors own techniques, a "cheater's guide" of short-cuts, and