Dos a dos binding
veneer boards
quarter leather
foredge clasps
Doublewall Slipcase
parchment cover
lined in suede
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A piece of parchment from the same document as used to cover the slipcase lines the foredge piece. The veneer was applied to the external boards, underneath the protrusion of the hooks, and abutting the ties.The two textblocks were tipped together along the spine edge and rounded and backed as one book; after the rounding and backing, the head of the textblock was ploughed. While in the press, the head of the textblock was painted with several thin washings of gouache, and then decorated with a loose gold leaf sprinkle.
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The ties which pass across the spine edge and effectively hold the two textblocks closed were formed by covering lengths of hemp cord with pieces of the dyed goatskin. The ‘hooks' were sewn through the front boards.
Natural Harmatan goatskin was dyed using powdered Hewit's aniline leather dyes. The two spines were covered as for a traditional tightback; the textblocks were covered at the same time, and tied up together to dry in a finishing press as one book (although at this time they were not yet connected in any way).
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It became apparent that a box of some type was necessary to protect this mammoth entirety while in transport and use, and a slipcase as opposed to a drop spine conservation box was decided upon, so that the spine of the book is still visible when on the shelf. Due to the size of the book, a double walled slipcase construction, lined in the split of a leather and covered in a parchment document, was decided upon.
The outer slipcase was to be covered in parchment, and two parchment documents were lined with watercolour paper. This lining is necessary due to the natural translucence of parchment, which becomes more marked when dampness or adhesive is applied; it also makes the parchment easier to work with.
The interior of the slipcase (covered in goatskin split) was then adhered to the exterior slipcase (covered in parchment), during which operation a length of green velvet ribbon was inserted between the two layers, to act as a 'pull' for removal of the book from the slipcase. This ribbon pull prevents under wear along the spine edge as the book is removed from the slipcase, and the end of the ribbon was supported with folded card and covered in the same goatskin used on the binding.
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