Diane Harries, Book Structures 1 - Traditional
Case-bindings, Long-stitch, Secret Belgian, Crossed-structure, Coptic.
Case Bindings
"Western Codex"
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Flat Back Case Binding
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Long Stitch Bindings
These can involve soft, flexible covers or hard rigid covers, and may be stitched on single signatures or use fancy stitching involving more than one signature at a time.
A soft cover long stitch binding using pelmet vilene and fabric coverings
Hard cover long stitch binding with varied items stitched onto folded card strips for binding into cover
Crossed Structure Bindings
There are several versions of these using either card or leather covers
"Basic" structure, second stitching style, leather, card
"Hidden" crossed structure bindings in felt and card
"Linked" crossed structure using leather for the cover
"Protective" crossed structure using commercial felt for the cover
Another crossed structure technique with the cover separate but linked into the book
Secret Belgian Binding
The book block is stitched first. The covers are then stitched together with the book block, and the spine is only held in place by the threads. This structure opens out flat, much like a coptic binding.
Coptic Binding
The spine of the book block is exposed making the stitching and the signatures visible. Single stitching, double stitching, cross-over, and icicle patterns are some of the possibilities. This structure opens flat.
A Guard Book with card pages folded around the spine to create space for inclusion of photographs, without making the covers bulge. Stitched over tapes that are inserted into the cover, and stabilised with endpapers.