The Springback: Account book binding

These instructions for making a springback account book are derived from my notes as an apprentice at the Kunstbuchbinderei Klein, with adaptations over time. While my training is in the German tradition, the steps outlined should not be radically different from the English tradition. Although the technique was originally patented in Great Britain in 1799 by John and Joseph Williams,) the authors have found very few descriptions of this method in contemporary English language texts. Alex J. Vaughan describes the technique with great detail in Section II, \u27Stationery Binding\u27 of Modern Bookbinding. There is also an historical mention in Bernard Middleton\u27s A History of English Craft Bookbinding, but it does not detail the steps required to complete a binding. The German binding literature, however, covers the springback quite thoroughly in such texts as Thorwald Henningsen, Paul Kersten, Heinrich Luers, Gustav Moessner, Fritz Wiese, and Gerhard Zahn, and the technique is still required learning for all hand bookbinding apprentices in Germany. As a style, the springback is firmly rooted in the \u27trade\u27 binding tradition. The springback\u27s robustness, and ability to lie open and flat for extended periods of time without unduly stressing the spine make the structure ideal for use as account and record books. These same qualities make it suitable for guest-books, lectern Bibles, and similarly used books. Regrettably the structure is rarely found on fine bindings or in contemporary book art, especially as the structure would be a suitable platform for many elements of design bindings. Its thick boards would provide a canvas for more sculptural or inset designs. With some minor modification it could also serve as a means of presenting pop-up constructions

Molded Paper Spine Binding

The molded paper spine is a rebacking/recasing structure intended for leather-bound books for which the covers have deteriorated too much to be salvageable. The new molded paper spine looks very much like leather and is very strong

Windowed Drop Spine Box

Step-by-step instructions for measuring and assembling a drop-spine box for the housing or rare books and other materials. This variant of box features a clear spine area allowing the contents to be seen when the box is closed

Polyester Encapsulation Using An Edge Welder

Step-by-step instructions for encapsulating documents and other flat paper-based items in polyester film (mylar) using an edge welder

Phase Box

The phase box is a simple, low-cost, enclosure made from 20pt acid-free folder stock. It is designed to protect brittle, deteriorated, low priority items

Drop Spine Box

Step-by-step instructions for measuring and assembling a drop-spine box for the housing or rare books and other materials

Exhibition Cradles for Books

Instructions for making cradles to properly support books while on exhibit. Materials used include Vivak (a bendable plastic) and mat board

Paper Spine for Thin Volumes

Similar in concept to the Molded Paper Spine, this treatment is intended for materials in the collection printed before 1800 in which the text block is less than 1cm thick. The technique comes from Frank Mowery at the Folger Shakespeare Library

Mylar Phase Box

The Mylar phased box is a simple, low-cost, enclosure made from 20pt acid-free folder stock and heavy weight Mylar to create a see through wrapper for higher end items. This box comes from the Folger Shakespeare Library and was designed by Linda Blaser

Conservation Re-casing (Binding)

Conservation recasing is a way to preserve our 19th and 20th century materials in which the bindings have failed and, in many cases, been lost over time. It is not intended to be used on valuable bindings or volumes printed before 1800. The structure used is based on the German (Bradel) case binding