
Their original purpose is to help lessen damage to the book when it is removed from a shelf by it’s headcap. Headband & Tailbands– Headbands are coloured threads (normally mercerized cotton or silk) which are wrapped around a core of some sort (normally vellum backed with leather) and are then sewn through the signatures, filling space left between the spine and the book block. It’s the part that bends when the book is opened. Hinge – The Hinge of a book is the section between the cover boards and the spine. Tail – The Tail is the bottom part of the book.

Later on in the binding process the spine or backbone would be covered and the bands would be raised above the rest of the spine. This method of binding is less common today, as a result faux bands are used purely for decorative purposes (see video below).ĭon't forget to subscribe to our YouTube channel to get access to HD videos of hundreds of Book Binding tutorials and reviews! Raised Bands – Raised Bands were originally the result of cords (or thongs) used during the sewing process which were affixed to the signatures and used to hold the book covers on. It bends when the book is opened and is only seen on hardcover books. Also called a French joint or French groove, groove, gully, channel, and outer joint. Joint – The Joint of a book is the small groove which runs vertically down the book itself between the book boards (book cover) and the spine.

History and further information on dust jackets on Wikipedia.In today’s modern world, dust jackets serve the same purpose but are generally used to host eye-catching artwork designed to lure the reader in and increase sales.įound only on hardcover books, the dust jacket will normally be made from paper or plastic (or plastic covered paper) with the ends of which wrapped inside the book cover. It wasn’t until after World War I when booksellers and publishers realised the correlation between well designed book cover jackets and book sales, during this time an explosion of book cover designs hit the market it was around the same time that The British Library Started its Dust Jacket Collection (early 1920’s) which now contains over 11,000 items. A Pocket Guide to the Identification of First EditionsĮxternal Parts of a Book Dust Jacket Exampleĭust Jacket or Dust Wrapper – First used during the 19th century, the original purpose of the dust jacket was to protect the cover of books from scratches and dust which could have been made from fine leather, linen cloth, silk or other expensive materials.Modern Book Collecting: A Basic Guide to All Aspects of Book Collecting.
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A must for any book collector, book enthusiast or anyone interested in bookbinding or book related arts, a fantastic read and one that I always keep next to me when teaching - a timeless classic.Ĭheck out reviews, prices and further information here on. It contains a complete A-Z of in-depth descriptions on every aspect of antique and modern book collecting including many descriptive texts on book manufacture and the jargon that goes along with it. Probably the most well known of all reference materials on the subject of book anatomy and book collecting terminology, known by many as THE table of contents or the ‘how-to bible’. Don't forget to subscribe to our YouTube channel to get access to HD videos of hundreds of Book Binding tutorials and reviews! My Bible: ABC for Book Collectors by John Carter & Nicholas Barker ABC for Book Collectors
