tongue and slot
One of the techniques used to attach the covers to
a book. The tongue is formed by covering the spine
of the book and carrying the leather onto the
waste sheet of the endpapers, together with the
spine lining and slips. The leather or cloth
hinges are also glued to the same sheet. The
laminated flange (tongue) thus formed is cut to
shape to fit a slot (not unlike an enclosed split
hoard) cut into the back edge of the hoard. The
board is then covered and finished in whatever
manner is required, separate from the book, and is
attached to it by gluing the tongue into the slot.
The entire assembly is then pressed to insure
proper adhesion.
The tongue and slot technique is said to offer the
following advantages: 1) the boards can be
finished, e.g., doublures attached, more easily
off the boo; 2) large and/or very heavy books can
be handled more easily; 3) more than one skin can
be used in covering; 4) a design which calls for
blocking the covers can be handled with greater
facility; 5) attachment of the covers in this
manner facilitates removal by a future restorer
for work on the text block; and 6) at least part
of the original bookbinder's design can he
preserved if and when a more or less complete
restoration of the book is required. (311 )
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