Volume 1, Number 7
Dec 1976

Literature Currently Available

John Dean, formerly Binder at the Newberry Library in Chicago, now Collections Maintenance Officer with the Milton Eisenhower Library, Johns Hopkins University, last year completed a master's thesis in library science, entitled "English Language Bookbinding Manuals in the Context of the History of English Bookbinding." It is a unique, enlightened analysis with a 68-item annotated bibliography and a short appendix recommending the best of the lot. For beginning amateurs he recommends the following three books:

• Forsyth, K. Marjorie. Bookbinding for Teachers, Students, Amateurs. London: Black, 1932.
• Lewis, Arthur William. Basic Bookbinding. New York: Dover, 1957.
• Robinson, Ivor. Introducing Bookbinding. London: Batsford; New York: Watson-Guptill, 1968.

For the advanced amateur and apprentice:

• Cockerell, Douglas Bennett. Bookbinding and the Care of Books. London: Pitman, 1955.
• Mason, John. Bookbinding and Ruling. London: Pitman, 1933.
• Pleger, John J. Bookbinding and its Auxiliary Branches. Chicago: Inland Printer, 1914.
• Vaughan, Alexander J. Modern Bookbinding. London: Skilton, 1960.

For the "reader with extensive bookbinding experience" he recommends:

• Harrison, T. Fragments of Bookbinding Technique. London: Printed by W. Pearce and Co., 196-.
• Middleton, Bernard C. The Restoration of Leather Bindings. Chicago: American Library Association, 1972.

He may be able to furnish copies of his thesis for a price, to interested parties.