Bookbinding and the Conservation of Books
A Dictionary of Descriptive Terminology

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against the grain

Paper which has been folded at right angles to the direction in which the fibers tend to lie, i.e., the MACHINE DIRECTION . A well-produced book always has the grain or machine direction running from head to tail so that the back or binding fold of the paper is not against the grain. Correct grain direction means that the leaves of the book will be more inclined to lie flat when the book is open. The term applies specifically to machine-made paper, asHANDMADE PAPER has no definite grain direction.




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