PUBLICATION ANNOUNCEMENT: Guild of Book Workers Journal Volume 46

GUILD OF BOOK WORKERS JOURNAL

Volume 46

We’re happy to announce the publication of the Guild of Book Workers Journal Vol. 46. It’s now in the mail to all Guild members. A limited number of copies is available for sale; visit our website to place your order https://guildofbookworkers.org/journal.

Table of Contents

Guild of Book Workers Journal Volume 46

The Fixed and the Variable in the Practice of Bookbinding

Christopher McAfee

When are the rules of bookbinding fixed and when may they be broken? Drawing on a mixture of personal experience and study, McAfee demystifies the structure of the book in its many variations, shedding light on how to balance techniques and materials in order to create a well-functioning book.

[Image caption: Christopher McAfee: Anatomy of a book]

Watermarks in Motion

Radha Pandey

Curiosity piqued by what she’d read of watermarks in the history of papermaking, Pandey brought her experience with stop-motion animation to bear on her work as a hand papermaker. With the aid of digital technology, she came up with an innovative and beautiful way to create animation using individual watermarks as frames.

[Image caption; Radha Pandey: Close-up of early Delrin test on mould]

Contemporary Bindings of Vesalius’ De Humani Corporis Fabrica, 1543 and 1555

Gabrielle Fox with Stephen N. Joffe

Captivated by Andreas Vesalius’ De humani corporis fabrica Fox and Joffe embarked on a project to survey copies of the book’s first and second editions in contemporary bindings. In this article, Fox describes some of what she has learned and how her survey process has evolved over time.

[Image caption: Gabrielle Fox with Stephen N. Joffe. De Humani Corporis Fabrica, 555 (second edition). Collection of the Medical Heritage Center, Health Sciences Library, The Ohio State University, 1555.]

How to Utilize Mica in Bookmaking: An Introduction

Peggy Seeger

Mica is abundant on earth and in our solar system, and it enchants us when we encounter it in its natural state. Yet it is rarely used in making books. Here Seeger introduces us to different types of mica and presents techniques for working with each, as well as details on where to obtain this versatile and beautiful material. A gallery following the article shows how several other book artists have incorporated mica in their work.

[Image caption: Peggy Seeger: Mindfulness. 2015. Artist’s book by Peggy Seeger. Mica covers, pages, embellishments, and traditional Japanese-style wrapper with bone clasps.]

The Board Shear: Background, Maintenance, and Safety Considerations for the Jacques and Similar Models

William Minter

The ubiquitous board shear is the workhorse of the bindery. When it does not work properly, the problems—misalignment, poor cutting, loose parts—can cause serious damage to the blades and other parts of the tool, as well as reduce work quality and injure the binder. Here Minter provides a manual describing the history and proper care of the board shear and guidelines for safety in its use.

[Image caption: Brass label for John Jacques and Sons Bookbinders’ Shear]