Monday, August 11, 2025

Carolingian Binding

It has been a while but I wanted to put up some pictures of the Carolingian binding I made in June.

This book was bound with 18 quires of 8.5in by 11in sheets of 59 lb/160 gsm Pergamenata folded in half to create 5.5in by 8.5in leaves; 3/32, 4-ply linen cord for the support cords and endband cores; 25/3, unwaxed white linen thread approximately 0.60 mm thick conditioned with bees’ wax for the sewing thread used to sew the text block, the endbands, and the spine tabs; 1/2 inch (12.7mm) thick quarter sawn white oak boards for the book boards; vegetable tanned goat leather (Native Tanned Native Dyed Sokoto Leather) approximately 1.0 mm thick for the spine tabs, cover, and closing strap; 14 gauge brass wire for clasp; brass nails (1.2x12mm) for the closing pin and to secure the closing strap to the cover board; wheat paste to attach leather, secure support cords onto book boards, and to attach the closing strap; and wooden toothpicks as wedges to help secure support cords onto book boards. 

I made this to enter into the Pennsic 52 Arts and Sciences War Point as a member of the East Kingdom team. I was honored to be named both the winner of my division and the overall winner (tied with another amazing East Kingdom artist). 

Folding quires

Text block and covers before sewing

Outside of cover board with drilled holes and carved channels 

Inside of cover board with drilled holes and carved channels

Outside of cover board with support cords laced into board
Inside of cover board with support cords laced into board
Finished text block before lacing in upper cover board
Finished text block with upper cover board laced on

Endband tab seen from the spine side

Endband and endband tab

Endband with finished and sewn endband tab

Finished endband tab seen from spine side

Finished head of the book

Finished tail of the book

Finished fore edge of the book

Finished spine of the book

Back of finished book

Finished front of the book






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