Limp paper bindings

Simon Barcham Green <simongreen [at] aol__com> writes

>Some readers will recall all our discussions dating back to
>Cambridge 1980 and the various papers we produced under the
>Renaissance name for limp paper binding. Time moves on and my wife
>Maureen is now studying for an MA in the History of the Book at the
>University of London. She has decided to research limp paper
>bindings old and new and has asked me to try and contact you for
>some information.

I first encountered limp paper bindings when I was looking for info
on Limp vellum bindings. The publication "Limp Vellum Bindings" (I
hope that is the title) by Christopher Clarkson was bound in a
beautiful limp paper binding. The book was published by the Red Gull
press, and I suspect Chris Clarkson designed the binding although
I'm not sure. It is both simple and elegant. The materials used are
well chosen for the job and the book opens and handles well. The
other person who will be able to help you is Gary Frost. There is an
article by him in The New Bookbinder which talks about older book
structures and their mechanics. Keith Smith writes about non
adhesive bindings and has some really interesting ideas.

In my own work I have used a limp paper binding for 2 editions from
the Brindabella Press, one The Palace with several Sides by
Christina Stead and the other Iris' Garden by Barbra Hanrahan. The
cover paper was Canson and although it did the job was not entirely
successful as the canson is not meant to be folded, it cracks on the
surface.

As an edition binding technique it requires good folding and
accurate jig making to be able to turn out a reasonable number per
hour. It also demands that the materials chosen are ideally suited
to the job. However people love handling the books.

I like the no adhesive aspect. I hope this is of some small help.

Robin Tait


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                  Conservation DistList Instance 13:38
                Distributed: Wednesday, January 5, 2000
                       Message Id: cdl-13-38-008
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