Scaleboard Binding structure model

The Scaleboard Binding is a Colonial American binding style. As a substitute for scarce pasteboard, boards were made of thin sheets of wood, with the grain running horizontally. Signatures were often not sewn, but laced onto alum-tawed or leather thongs through slots in the signatures, cut adjacent to the spine. These thongs were then glued to the top of the boards.

The book was then covered in full leather, or a leather spine with the boards covered in paper. This minimalist binding had no spine linings and the text block was not glued up before covering. As customary for modest bindings in this style, the leather turn-ins for this model were not pared, there are no endbands, and the turn-ins are pleated at the corners. Structure based on Julia Miller’s research.

Calf, marbled paper, alum-tawed thongs, birch boards, rescued vintage text block

4.5 x 3.25 x .5"