The Materials

Leather and Silk Your elegant gift book can be bound in the finest quality leather, suede or in exquisite Japanese silk. Choose from a wide range of colours and finishes. We use durable, high quality bookcalf. These skins are 100% vegetable tanned, aniline dyed, and have an elegant smooth natural grain. Leather is the time honoured material for achieving the finest traditional finish. However, our specialist, designer bookbinders also use leather to create more contemporary feel. The inspiration for the choice of finish often comes from the content of your book.
For books that will need to be more durable we offer a range of cloth and man-made covering materials. The painstaking attention to detail will be clear to see. Each book is a pleasure to look at, hold and read.
Book Papers We offer a wide choice of coated and uncoated papers in A5, A4 squared, A4 portrait and landscape, and A3 landscape. We offer smooth and textured finishes. All are a pleasure to touch. The papers we use add character to your gift book. All our papers conform to the most stringent environmental standards. They are all subject to environmentally friendly, reforestation policies set down by The Forest Stewardship Council.
End papers (inside front and rear cover papers) These papers can be plain, patterned or marbled. The choice of end paper colour and finish will reflect the quality and durability we need to achieve.
Marbled papers are traditionally made by floating paints on a bath, usually made from carrageenan. A stylus or comb is then used to create the various designs. After the sheet of paper is carefully laid onto the surface, the pattern is immediately transferred to the paper, rinsed and hung on a rack to dry. Designs include English, French, Italian, Thai and Indian. We can also offer printed marbled papers.
Gilt decoration and embossing Gold tooling, decoration and letter work on leather bookbinding originated in Italy and dates back to the Sixteenth Century. We offer gold leaf decoration and titles, sometimes combined with embossed insignia. We use 23 carat gold leaf for the ultimate prestige finish. Composition gold leaf and gold foil are also available options. When appropriate we apply a light varnish to protect the gold leaf from tarnishing.
Head bands and place ribbons Originally, the headband consisted of a thong core, similar to the bands on which the book was sewn, around which the ends of the threads were twisted and then laced into the boards of the book. Today, however, the headband is much simpler and is usually made of coloured silk sewn to the book or simply attached as a finishing touch. However, headbands are both decorative and structural. They can be sewn onto the book block to protect the head of the spine from damage or glued onto the spine as a decorative element. They are a beautiful finishing touch.
Slip cases and boxes We offer the option to present your elegantly bound gift book in a slip case or closed, felt lined box. These provide protection but also further enhance the look and feel of your gift.