The Girdle Book
Instructor: Nicholas Yeager
Workshop Date: February 17 - 19, 2018
Workshop Location: Dependable Letterpress, 1192 Illinois St, San Francisco, CA 94107

The Girdle Book is a fascinating structure that held sway for a fairly short time from the 14th through the 16th centuries. Portable books for travelers became popular with the rise of literacy and wealth. Taking a prayer book, or for professionals, a legal or medical text for easy reference became common enough that there are numerous depictions of these structures in the paintings of the period. The girdle book fascinates us today, and is a bit of a mystery as to how it was constructed.

Our example will be sewn on split thongs which are then laced onto shaped wooden boards. A full leather binding that has the knot at the end completes the covering. Theendbands will lace into the boards, we will also fashion clasps of simple metal for use as the closure of the book.

This book structure gives the student a set of experiences that they can use in their more contemporary work. The basic clasp is also an introduction to the lost art of clasps and furniture making for books.

Attention will be paid to the historical structural features and their place in binding history.

This class requires the student be skilled enough to accomplish the work in 3 days. Students will buy paper to class specifications, fold and prepare the signatures and punch them prior to class. Sewing will be done in class.

A complete list of tools will be provided upon registration.  Students will pay a $25.00 materials fee directly to the teacher on the first day of class.

INSTRUCTOR BIO - Nicholas Yeager studied bookbinding with Bill Minter in Chicago. As a conservation technician, then page at the Harry Ransom Center, University of Texas he wrote his BA thesis on medieval vellum making. He received his MLS degree from Columbia University in 1991 in rare books. His first professional job was as a rare book librarian at New York Public Library after being a conservation technician there.

Throughout his career he has focused on materials and techniques of book making, noticing binding structure and materials, as well the book's use, misuse and repairs. His study of medieval and renaissance binding structures have given Yeager insight into the mechanics and craft techniques used to make a book.