bookbinder
Spine and cover
A bookbinder is a person who binds books—assembling printed pages, attaching covers, and finishing the spine and edges.
The craft ranges from industrial production to artisanal restoration of rare volumes.
Bookbinders may work in commercial binderies, libraries, or as independent craftspeople specializing in custom leather bindings and repairs.
The bookbinder carefully reattached the loose pages of the antique Bible.
Tanned animal skin
- clothWoven or knit material
- buckramRigid textile for linings
- vellumPrepared calfskin for writing
- parchmentTreated hide for manuscripts
boards · thread · cord · tape · adhesive · paste · signatures · endpapers
Column of vertebrae
- coverProtect by overlaying
- boardsPlanks or governing bodies
- caseContainer or instance
- folioSingle-fold page format
quarto · octavo · gathering · section · hinge · joint · headcap · square
Craft with needle and thread
- gluingFastening with adhesive
- pressingRequiring immediate attention
- foldingBending something over itself
- cuttingDividing via sharp edge
stitching · creasing · nipping · punching · clamping · measuring · trimming · rounding
Pointed piercing implement
- pressApply force downward
- ploughEarth-turning farm tool
- guillotineVertical beheading apparatus
- spokeshaveTool for curving wood
Industrial machinery preparation
- gildingApplying decorative gold coating
- embossingRaising designs from surfaces
- stampingForceful foot motion
- marblingStreaky fat distribution
titling · fillet · ornament · lettering · inlay · onlay · boss · clasp
Young cattle hide leather
- goatskinTanned caprine hide
- moroccoTanned goatskin material
- cowhideTanned bovine leather
- pigskinLeather from swine
lambskin · vellum · full-grain · tanning · paring · patina · tooling · polishing
Rigid-bound book format
- paperbackBook with flexible cover
- codexAncient bound manuscript
- accordionBellows-driven reed instrument
- concertinaBellows-driven button instrument
Preventing waste or loss
- repairRestore to working order
- preservationMaintaining something's condition
- archivalOf preserved documents
- mendingRestoring damaged items
cleaning · resewing · consolidation · stabilization · reversibility · infilling
leather
Tanned animal skin
parchment · boards · thread · cord · tape · adhesive · paste · signatures · endpapers · mull
spine
Column of vertebrae
folio · quarto · octavo · gathering · section · hinge · joint · headcap · square · turn-in
sewing
Craft with needle and thread
- gluingFastening with adhesive
- pressingRequiring immediate attention
- foldingBending something over itself
cutting · stitching · creasing · nipping · punching · clamping · measuring · trimming · rounding · backing
awl
Pointed piercing implement
- pressApply force downward
- ploughEarth-turning farm tool
- guillotineVertical beheading apparatus
spokeshave · fillet · pallet · gouge · stamp
tooling
Industrial machinery preparation
- gildingApplying decorative gold coating
- embossingRaising designs from surfaces
- stampingForceful foot motion
marbling · titling · fillet · ornament · lettering · inlay · onlay · boss · clasp
calfskin
Young cattle hide leather
pigskin · lambskin · vellum · full-grain · tanning · paring · patina · tooling · polishing · grain
hardcover
Rigid-bound book format
conservation
Preventing waste or loss
- repairRestore to working order
- preservationMaintaining something's condition
- archivalOf preserved documents
mending · cleaning · resewing · consolidation · stabilization · reversibility · infilling
- artisan craftshandmade goods, fine jewelry, artisan crafts, handcrafted furniture, watchmaking
- craftsmenblacksmith, carpenter, cobbler, mason, weaver
- craftspeoplepotter, weaver, blacksmith, artisan, potters
- artisanspotter, weaver, blacksmith, cobbler, jeweler
- colonial tradesblacksmith, carpenter, cooper, cobbler, silversmith
- makersmakers, filmmaker, crafter, watchmaker, crafters
bookbindertypesetter
Arranges text for printing
author · printer · compositor · editor · illustrator