Book #160

Italian Paper-covered binding No. 6

In the early 19th Century, these Italian paper-covered books had an even more abbreviated stitching, and were not bound through a wrapper. Adhesive was used to consolidate the signatures and the covers were pasted directly to the spine of the textblock.

Book #159

Italian Paper-covered binding No. 5

Using a similar abbreviated sewing pattern as yesterday's book, this is another example where the book is sewn through a primary wrapper and then the primary wrapper is covered in a secondary paste-paper wrapper.

Book #158

Italian Paper-covered binding No. 4

Later in the 18th Century, the Italian longstitch became even more abbreviated and was sewn through one primary wrapper of stiff paper. The sewing almost looks incomplete or unplanned at this point in its evolution. My previous examples were all made with four signatures, but I used six signatures for this one to make the stitching pattern more repetitive - but I think it still looks incomplete!

Book #157

Italian Paper-covered binding No. 3

The paper-covered Italian longstitch bindings underwent some evolution and in the 17th and 18th Centuries, the sewing patterns became somewhat abbreviated. This is an example of the abbreviated sewing seen during that time. Other features that were seen were wrap-around endleaves and decorative paste-paper wrappers; this example has both.

Book #156

Italian Paper-covered binding No. 2

Today's book is another example of a paper-covered binding from 16th-17th Century Italy. It is bound using the same sewing technique, but this version has only a primary wrapper so the stitching remains visible.

Book #155

Italian Paper-covered binding No.1

The book I made for today is an example of a 16th-17th Century Italian paper covered binding where the signatures were sewn using a type of longstitch sewing through a primary wrapper then covered with a decorative secondary wrapper. I scanned and printed a woodblock design from that period and used it on my secondary wrapper.

There are a number of variations of this binding which I will show over the next few days. The models that I am making for these various Italian paper-covered, or limp paper case, bindings are based on information compiled by Maria Fred­er­icks, which she shared with participants at PBI in 2012.