Account Book Binding

 Registration is closed for this event

June 12th, 2017 9:30 AM

  • Instructor: Dominic Riley
  • Workshop Type: Binding
  • Workshop Status: Closed
  • Workshop Start: June 12th, 2017 9:30 AM
  • Workshop End: June 16th, 2017 5:30 PM
  • Sessions: 5

“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. 

We 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 we’ll 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, we’ll cover the book 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: Cobblers knife, sponge, scalpel, paring knife, heavy duty awl.

Optional and available at SFCB for student use during workshop: bone folder, sewing needle, scissors, metal ruler, heavy duty steel straight edge, dividers.

Workshop + Materials Fee: $700.00

Date & Time: Monday-Friday, June 12-16, 2017 :: 9:30am-5:30pm

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

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

REGISTRATION WILL CLOSE 3 DAYS PRIOR TO THE START DATE OF THIS WORKSHOP.


About the Instructor | Dominic Riley

Dominic Riley Is an internationally renowned bookbinder, artist, lecturer and teacher. He has his bindery in the Lake District, from where he travels across the UK teaching and lecturing. He spends part of the year teaching in San Francisco and across the USA. His work is mostly restoration and Design Binding, for which he has won many prizes in the Designer Bookbinders competition. He was elected Fellow of DB in 2008. His bindings are in collections worldwide, including the British Library, the Grolier Club in New York and the San Francisco Public Library. In 2013 he won first prize, the Sir Paul Getty Award, in the International Bookbinding Competition.


Past Student Reviews:

“Dominic was very patient. He is able to communicate very clearly and concisely what the next steps are and what to expect during the day. Love his humor too!”

“Dominic is an amazing instructor. Not only do you learn best practices, tips and new techniques but you get the history behind what you are learning too."

“This class was everything I'd hoped it would be, and much more." 

375 Rhode Island St
San Francisco, CA 94103-5133
United States