The Craft of Bookbinding

Gets into bookbinding pretty deep, the Author is old school, many details are well explained, the drawings are well explained. A great beginners and medium skilled handbook to teach this old craft the right way!!

Most helpful book for any bookbinder, not just beginners like me. The text and illustrations are clear.

Many of the methods Banister uses in this book are finicky and overcomplicated, but they get the job done nonetheless. His instructions may be difficult for some to follow, but there are tons of great photographs. I also love that Banister gives instructions for how to build several presses yourself - they can be very pricy if purchased ready made!

This book--paired with Hand Bookbinding: a Manual for Instruction--are just what you need to get started with the art of hand bookbinding. The only time I would buy another book about bookbinding would be if I needed more information, or wanted to try out some new stuff, which is highly unlikely. So, if you're interested in hand bookbinding, buy the two books I mentioned, and you'll be all set (apart from equipment).

This is by far one of the better books on the subject of bookbinding. It treats things such as leather covering, multiple sewing methods, cording, split covers, and finishing with great detail. However, an easier to read book is Hand Bookbinding A Manual of Instruction by Aldren A. Watson, which also happens to provide instructions on how to make your own tools, something the reader will find quite useful since tools are very difficult to find. Anyone wishing to get into bookbinding seriously should obtain both books to have a complete treatment of the subject, from tools to final product. I couldn't do without the two of them.