A few years back (OK – more than a decade ago), we shared designer Wesley Tanner’s instructions for opening a new book with a sewn binding:
“The first thing I do when I get a book like this with sewn signatures is to ‘open it up.’ I remove the jacket off and lay the book on a table (admiring the lovely silver stamping). Looking at the top or bottom edge at the spine, I find the middle of the first section, and open the book with both hands gripping the outside edges of the pages, and gently ‘break’ the glue that has seeped through the sewing holes. I only open the book far enough to do this, about 80 percent of the way down to flat, as I don’t want to wreck the spine. After I’ve done two or three signatures I start from the back, as this will counter the natural twist the book’s spine will get after reading the book straight through. After that, the book should lay open on the table when I go get another cup of coffee.”
The method in the graphic at top isn’t so different. It, too, requires a table and just a bit of care.
Neither method calls for more than a few minutes’ work – and it will allow you (and your heirs) to enjoy a well-made book (like those from Lost Art Press!) for decades – even centuries – to come.
– Fitz
A dozen nicely bound books from LAP and I just now learn this. Oh well, better late than never!
When I was in junior high and high school, in the ’60’s, this process was always de rigueur when any new text books were issued at the beginning of a new school year. We would sit in class and go through this on day one. Actually works pretty good on paperbacks, as well.
I remember my mother telling me that she was taught to do this while a child in school (1920s) while she taught me how when I was little.