polishing
The process of smoothing and adding gloss to the
covers of a book by mechanical means. The process
involves working the leather at first with a
slightly warm tool, followed by repeated workings
with polishers heated to higher temperatures.
Small circular motions are used to prevent wide
areas of darkened streaks from showing. The
technique of polishing leather covers dates back
at least to the second half of the 14th century.
(161 , 236 , 335 )