Books

Types of bindings

There are many different types of bindings. Brief descriptions of some of the more common types and some of their distinctive features follow.

Flexible style or tight-back. This was the most common binding style until the end of the 18th century, and is still used for fine binding. The term flexible refers to the spine, which ideally remains flexible and becomes concave when the book is opened: allowing the pages to throw open fully. In this style the covering material, usually leather, is glued tightly to the spine of the textblock. So it is sometimes also called a tight-back binding.

The spine leather is glued to the spine of the text block. The thickness of the leather and the amount of glue used often prevents the spine from being flexible. Tight-back is often a more apt description. Photograph courtesy of Artlab Australia

Library style. The library style was developed as a sturdy and durable binding which could withstand heavy use. From the middle of the 19th century in Britain, heavy demand for books to supply libraries led to many compromises in production of materials and binding techniques. At the time the look of the binding was more important than its durability. The fact that many of these bindings deteriorated led to the development of the library style. Some features of this style include the following:

• the textblock is sewn on linen tapes, rather than the less durable hemp cords;

• split boards. The boards are attached to the textblock by inserting the tapes into a split in the board; and

• the French joint. This has a space between the spine of the book and the beginning of the front and backboards, which makes it easier to open the book. The endpapers are reinforced with linen.

The joint can be seen clearly between the spine and the boards of this book. Photograph courtesy of the State Library of New South Wales

The French joint allows the book to open fully. The linen reinforcement on the end papers makes the inside of the joint strong. Photograph courtesy of Artlab Australia

Paperback. The term paperback really refers to the paper cover. Editions of books are either paperback or hardback. However, many people associate paperbacks with a particular style—one in which the textblock is made of single sheets held together by adhesive applied to the spine. This structure is not very durable. If you look at your book collection you will see that some modern books with paper covers are made up of folded sections sewn together. These are more durable than the adhesive style of paperback, but the covers don't really offer a lot of protection to the textblock.

A modern paperback book. Photograph courtesy of Artlab Australia

Case binding. Many binders don't consider this a true binding. It was developed as a cheap and relatively easy method of providing protection to the textblock. The case—boards usually covered in cloth—is prepared separately. The textblock and case are attached by pasting the endpapers and spine linings of the textblock to the inside of the case. Many of the classic, decorated, cloth-covered books, especially children's books from the first part of this century, are case bound. Case binding can be done by machine.

Limp vellum bindings. These bindings have been used for centuries. Their chief characteristic is that they don't have rigid boards. The textblock is sewn and then covered with a protective covering. This covering is often laced to the sewing cords or thongs. The style is popular as a conservation binding because it is not necessary to use adhesives. It is used with vellum as well as with paper.

This book was made in 1992. It was made in the limp, vellum style with paste paper covers instead of vellum. The text block is sewn on strips of alum-tawed goat skin. The covers are laced onto the text block using these goat-skin strips. Photograph courtesy of Vicki Humphrey

Hollow back. The hollow is a spine lining which allows very free opening of books. The hollow lining is a paper tube attached to the spine of the textblock. The covering material is applied over the hollow. When the book opens, the covering material remains curved and supported by one half of the tube, while the textblock becomes concave and is supported by the other half of the tube.

Full binding. This name indicates that the book is covered entirely with the same material, for example, full leather, full cloth.

Half binding. Books that are half-bound have the spine with an overlap onto the boards, and the corners or foredge of the boards, covered in one material, while the remainder of the boards are covered in another. This was an economy measure as the second material was usually a cheaper one. However, it has been used to good decorative effect in many cases.

This book shows clearly the principle of the hollow back. Photograph courtesy of the State Library of New South Wales

This book has a full leather binding and is decorated with gold tooling. Photograph courtesy of Artlab Australia, reproduced with permission from the History Trust of South Australia

This book has leather spine and corners and paper covering the boards in half bound style. Photograph courtesy of Vicki Humphrey

Quarter binding is another economy measure which is used decoratively. Books which are quarter bound have the spine with an overlap onto the boards, covered in one material, while the boards are covered in another.

This book has a leather spine, with bookcloth covering the boards in the quarter bound style. Photograph courtesy of Artlab Australia, reproduced with permission from the History Trust of South Australia