Book-binding Popular Hobby In Paris

Press, Volume C, Issue 29567, 17 July 1961, Page 2

Book-binding Popular Hobby In Paris

A young French prince is reawakening public interest in France in the age-old art of book-bind-ing, says a Reuter correspondent. ' In a tiny shop on the left bank of the Biver Michel of Bourbon-Oriean and his wife, Marina, ' work side by side sur- ' sounded by pots of fish glue, leather hides, presses, and a dusty ’ atmosphere of antiquity. ’ Wearing voluminous blue ! smocks. Prince Michel and 1 Princess Marina confirmed that a beautifully-bound edi- ; tion involved a minimum of . 60 hours’ work. The cost of ■ binding a first edition can also : be high—as much as 400 new francs (about £3O). ■ Valuable books deserve the finest quality materials, and ’ the wholesale price of a sheep skin is about 200 new francs (about £l5). To cover an average-sized book entirely in leather means cut- , ting into the centre of one skin. Only a few scraps and , narrow strips can be salvaged for use later in binding the backs or corners of less ■ valuable volumes. A book may have sentimental value but not be printed on fine-quality papers. The ‘'royal” bookbinders believe a client should not select a binding which exceeds the monetary value of the book itself. They suggest it is inappropriate to give a common edition which may have cost less than 10 new francs (about 15s) to a luxurious binding worth several hundred new francs. No Telephone The “Marina” book-binding shop does not boast a telephone. The owner-worker team is there every day from morning till night. Clients are welcome to come in at any time to browse round and discuss the selection of leathers or papers to be used for bindings. Many novelty and fairlv inexpensive materials are used for binding. Printed paper and doth can be matched to the style and mood of the book itself. Children’s books are charmingly bound in calico or gingham fabrics. Bindings of velvet and scraps of old brocade are good for romantic novels, while antique parchment goes well with historical editions. Sometimes fragments of worn tapestry can be used to cover some unusual volume. Even has been used to bend

nautical or sea-faring books. In the lower price brackets, marble-grained papers, and papers with stylised designs are available. Frequently, scraps of leather, suitably matched to printed or patterned papers, are used to cover the “spine” or back of the book and corners.