Lexicon of Bookbinding

All the important terms from A to Z

| A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | Y
  • acide-free glues

    See Animal glue

  • adhesive binding, unsewn binding

    A binding made of single sheets stuck together at the back with glue or paste. See also sewn binding.

  • album

    Bookto glue pictures and patterns. In the album because of the content-applying Ausgleichsfälze must be stapled or it must be etched with a soft, resilient back. The former family albums were equipped with Patentfälzen and scenes for inserting photographs drawn on cardboard. Between pages often glassine is included to protect the photographs.

  • all along

    A method of sewing in which one or more sections are sewn along their length. See also two up, three up.

  • all along

    A method of sewing in which one or more sections are sewn along their length. See also two up, three up.

  • alum

    A salt used to prepare a skin for binding, rendering it soft, flexible, and white in colour. See also tawing.

  • Animal glue

    Animal glueis water-soluble, natural glue, animal waste from the higher animals ("leimgebende body") obtained by boiling. This produces a curd, which is thus in the dry state and as "glue". Its aromatic odor reminiscent of a meat broth.

  • antique paper

    A paper rough to the touch, lightweight, often bulky, but with little size.

  • AO

    The basic size in the ISO (International Standards Organization) series of papers and boards. A0 equals 1189 x 841 mm (i.e. one square metre).

  • art paper, coated paper

    A paper originally made from esparto grass fibre, coated with china clay and casein glue and glazed with rollers under pressure. Traditionally used for halftone printing.

  • azured

    An heraldic term used to describe a pattern comprising closely spaced parallel, diagonal lines.

Letter a