Account Book Binding

“Account book binding or, more properly speaking, stationery binding includes everything from the penny memorandum book to the massive ledger” wrote Paul Hasluck in 1903 about this ubiquitous, but now rarely taught area of the bookbinder’s repertoire.

The account book is a complex, intricate and extremely robust structure that was developed in the early nineteenth century for record books which needed to open perfectly flat.

This workshop will start by sewing the sections onto heavy webbing, and then reinforcing the sewing further with cat-gut tackets, and sewing on strong cloth jointed endpapers. The book is rounded but not backed, the edges decorated, and then the spine lined with layers of paper and calfskin. Then, make the special laminated flange which is inserted into split boards along with the famous ‘spring back’, an extraordinary steam-molded spine which grips the book firmly, throwing open the pages. After this, the book will be covered in reverse calf, Russia bands, and vellum lacing, all characteristic of the style. Finally, we'll tool the boards in the traditional way using candle smoke, and add a gold blocked spine label.

Materials to bring: bone folder, sewing needle, cobblers knife, old toothbrush, scalpel, paring knife, heavy duty awl, scissors

Materials fee: $90

Prerequistes: None

Date & Time: Monday – Friday, July 22 – 26 | 9:30am – 5:30pm

Location: 375 Rhode Island St, San Francisco, CA 94103

Note: Please review the SFCB Registration Policies before signing up for a class

About the Instructor | Dominic Riley

Dominic Riley learned bookbinding at age 16 from Benedictine monks and at the London College of Printing. He spent the last 10 years in San Francisco teaching, lecturing and restoring rare books. He now has a bindery with Michael Burke in England's Lake District and serves as vice chairman of the Society of Bookbinders.

He also recently won the top award of £10,000 ($15,670.89) at the second Sir Paul Getty Bodleian Bookbinding Prize 2013 ceremony.The BBC filed the following report. To view the original article click here.

Past Student Reviews

"Dominic is a masterful teacher. Very good with ALL students"

"Class was extremely well paced. Dominic is an excellent teacher and raconteur"

"Fantastic!! Lots of fun and I learned so much"

"Superb! Set the time frame very well so we could all complete work. Very helpful to slow learners!"