Case 3

Alum-Tawed Chemise Binding

Developed in the 1990s by Robert Espinosa, former book conservator at Brigham Young University, this binding structure represents a modern conservation structure based on historic models. While it looks like the limp parchment binding, and indeed has parchment covers, it differs from the latter in the use of alum-tawed skin on the spine. The skin spine is more flexible than parchment. Functional endbands allow the book to open better than a limp parchment binding. Therefore, this structure is useful in conservation treatments where an original cover cannot be saved and an historical cover is necessary.

Four-Hole Stab Binding (Yotsume Toji)

Eastern binding styles are quite different from Western ones. In this simple Japanese style, the lightweight paper is folded so that the folds are gathered at the fore-edge of the book (the edge opposite the spine) rather than at the spine edge,

as found in Western books. The individual folded pieces of paper are stab-sewn together, with the needle passing from the front cover to the back, rather than through the fold of each paper section. Cloth corners protect the delicate paper from wear.

In some of these examples, the text paper was made by the binder from abaca and mulberry fibers. The stab sewing style may be found in Western art books, but it usually is not very successful, as heavy Western papers do not have enough flexibility to open with rigid spine sewing.

Stab Binding Variations

With the addition of two or more sewing holes, simple stab bindings can be altered to provide more support at the corners or along the spine, and the sewing takes on a more decorative appearance.

The Kangxi binding, named after an early emperor of China’s Qing dynasty, features a subtle but elegant embellishment at the corners.

Building on the design of the Kangxi binding, the hemp leaf binding (asa-no-ha toji) adds a shallow Y-shaped stitch pattern between the main sewing holes.

The tortoise-shell binding (kikkō toji) gets its name from the resemblance its decorative stitch motif shares with the patterns on a tortoise shell.

Italian Stationery Binding

This model is inspired by 17th century examples housed in Spencer Research Library. The originals feature parchment covers, which are replaced by thick paper in this model. Large goatskin bands, very characteristic of account books from Italy at that time, are held in place with white alum-tawed animal skin. This flexible binding opens flat and is well suited to its purpose as a ledger to record business expenses.

Limp Parchment Binding

Parchment is made from animal skins, most typically calf, goat, and sheep. The skin is bathed in lye, stretched on a frame, scraped with a semi-circular knife, and dried under great tension to create a translucent product.

Parchment was used for the pages of medieval manuscripts and other books until paper widely replaced it in the 15th century.

This binding structure dates from at least the 14th century but flourished in the 15th-17th centuries. During a devastating flood in Florence, Italy in 1966, the limp parchment bindings held up much better than books bound in stiff leather covers.