GA R Y F R O S T

Application of Sewn Board Technique

to Book Conservation Practice

A B S T R AC T Curiously, none of the basic historical technologies are

obsolete. Each one, ancient or modern, is as advanced and
The association of sewn board structure with very early as relevant as another.
and non-Western binding methods has attracted interest This sense of technological inclusion is a great attribute
of the book arts and limited edition communities, but the of the book crafts. While contemporary digital technolo-
conservation field has generally not recognized useful fea- gies breed six month cycles of obsolescence, the book
tures or preservation implications of this type. crafts simply integrate all advances into a much larger
The features useful for contemporary book conserva- resource. At the same time the book crafts enable the con-
tion are the docile, flat opening, the secure cover-to-text structive interweaving of technologies that would
attachment, and the sewing of both text and boards using otherwise be isolated by arbitrary partitions of time or cul-
equitable stitch chains. Preservation implications arise ture.
from an exemplary book action as well as from the non- Sewn board bookbinding provides an example of such
disruptive and non-damaging sewing and forwarding of design interweaving. The application of sewn board tech-
sewn board technique. nique to book conservation practice looks backward to the
Specifically, there are advantages in the sewing, text for- technology of sewn board boat building in dynastic Egypt
warding, board modifications, and cover-to-text and forward to double fan adhesive binding, transfer tape
attachment. The chain stitch sewing adapts easily to pre- bonds, and Tyvek coverings.
existing sewing stations. With the forwarding there is little
or no shouldering and therefore no damaging or distorting THE SEWN BOARD PROTOTYPE
backing of the outermost gatherings. The resulting unin-
terrupted smooth back permits effective bonding of the The sewn board structure is the earliest and most per-
back lining. The sewn folio card board is used as a base for sistent type of codex binding. This project was based on
inserts and onlay stock which directly accommodates var- prototypes from cultures of the Mediterranean basin over
ious degrees of thread swelling. The inserts can also be a period of approximately one thousand years. Features of
provided with inner and outer gutter edge bevels to seat these sewn board prototypes include leaf attachment based
against text shoulders. Finally, the cover-to-text attachment on stitch chains extended to attachment of both leaves and
provides equitable, through-the-fold stitching of both covers and a flush trimming of both pages and covers.
gatherings and boards. These features dominated the first half of the history of
An historical context and various treatment case histo- Western bookbinding and have persisted to the present as
ries are described. exemplified by the modern paperback.
The structure of the sewn boards binding is associated
INTRODUCTION with the advent and advancement of the codex format
book in late Antiquity (Gamble 1995). Evidence locates
In book conservation work the relevant technologies of this development in the region of North and Eastern
book craft span most cultures and the entire historical era. Africa, in a period associated with Roman domination.
Once established as a book structure, the sewn board tech-
Presented at the Book & Paper Group Session, AIC 32nd Annual nology of codex binding was subsequently adopted by
Meeting, June 9–14, 2004, Portland, Oregon. Received for pub- both Islamic and Byzantine cultures.
lication Fall 2004.

The Book and Paper Group Annual 23 (2004) 33

34 The Book and Paper Group Annual 23 (2004)

T H E PA P Y R U S B O O K A particular attribute of the sewn board binding is its

consistent through-the-fold sewing pattern across the
North African evidence for the initial development of entire bound book. As a result, the boards and the gather-
the sewn board book binding structure is associated with ings act in the same manner as they respond to reader
sectarian works in Coptic language and with book produc- manipulation. This book action of the sewn board struc-
tion based on the use of papyrus. Highly- d e v e l o p e d ture is admirably depicted in early Christian iconography.
technologies of Egypt, including those of sewn board boat Here the codex is depicted in an over-opened position
construction, provided a resource for the structural devel- beyond 180 degrees (fig. 1). This depiction, as contrasted
opment. Archeological finds, spanning a period from the with the lesser openings depicting cord sewn work, por-
fourth through the eleventh centuries, illustrate both an trays the docile, flat opening so characteristic of sewn board
established sewn board book binding technique as well as work.1
a number of variations of cover-to-text attachment Other design traits of the papyrus book are apparent.
(Szirmai 1999). The square shape of the papyrus book sheet is folded to
produce an elongated page. Another important design trait
is the equivalent crossed grains provided by the papyrus
thatch. A cartonnage or pasteboard of only two pasted
sheets of papyrus lays perfectly flat. The papyrus book is
also distinctive because both rigid pasteboard cartonnage
and pliant leaves are made from exactly the same material.
Interestingly, waste manuscript leaves were converted to
cartonnage, resulting in an even distribution of content as
well!
A double cover or double-bound structure is a distinc-
tive trait of the papyrus book (fig. 2). This fascinating
feature suggests many options for compound cover-to-text
attachments including the historical compound laced con-
struction or a modern compound laced and cased
construction. Decorating and tooling of covering leather
while off the book is another distinctive trait of the papyrus
era. This enabled the tooled impressions, strap lacings, and
punchings, which could not be produced once the leather
was attached to the papyrus cartonnage.

Fig. 1. Early Christian image shows the codex open beyond 180 Fig. 2. Schematic of a double cover structure, typically used in
degrees papyrus books
Frost Application of Sewn Board Technique to Book Conservation Practice 35

There are indications that vestiges of the earlier papyrus of pleated guards, have been adapted for book conservation
book traits were conservatively preserved through subse- work.
quent sewn board binding traditions in spite of the The sewn board structure, however, has not been
different book making materials used. Traditional Greek adapted for use in book conservation practice. The associ-
and Armenian work, with vellum text leaves and wooden ation of sewn board structure with very early and
board covers, echoes features of the papyrus bookbinding. non-Western binding methods has attracted interest of the
The edge grooving in Greek cover boards echoes a com- book artists and limited edition binders, but the conserva-
pound, double cover of Coptic bookbinding. Greek and tion field has generally not recognized useful features or
Armenian work is also remarkable in the elaboration of preservation implications of this type.3
endbanding carried well onto the head and tail edges of
the boards. This endbanding is a reminder of mechanical BENEFITS OF SEWN BOARD STRUCTURE FOR
reinforcement associated with papyrus cartonnage as C O N S E RVAT I O N
e x e m p l i fied by the coreless endbanding of Coptic binding
that is carried across to the edges of the cartonnage boards. Preservation implications arise from the non-disruptive
The strange zigzag patterns of gutter thread bridles, pierc- and non-damaging sewing and forwarding of sewn board
ing and crossing over in Greek wooden boards, may echo technique. Other features useful for contemporary book
gutter tackets originally used to secure compound, outer, conservation are the secure cover-to-text attachment using
and inner papyrus cartonnage covers. equitable stitch chains. Finally, the exemplary docile, flat
The strong linen fabric linings carried over the back and opening of the sewn board structure facilitates scanning
onto the exterior of the boards in Eastern Church work is and exhibition. A prototype that has responded well to the
consistent with papyrus book work as well as the braided problematic folding behavior of papyrus will also suit
leather fore edge ties (Greek). Leather tooling and decora- weakened papers of rebound texts.
tion completed prior to covering also echo a convention The initial attraction of the sewn board structure is its
of the early papyrus book where cartonnage would not association with unsupported, thread-only sewing which is
have supported tooling. This sequence is evident in so well adapted to rebinding texts with pre-existing sewing
Armenian work where spine rulings could not be accom- stations, frequently in the form of saw kerfs (fig. 3). The
plished after covering. pliant, equitable stitch chains can be applied to a few or all
Taken together a consideration of relations between of the various stations that each book presents. The stitch
papyrus bookbinding and later vellum and sewn wooden chains produce a very equitable tension from head to tail
board bookbinding exemplifies trans-culture con- and from initial to last leaves. The flush stitch chains pro-
veyance—the same bridging needed for the application of vide no barrier or mask to the application of adhesive
sewn board technique to the subsequent, distant practice linings. The resulting “smooth” back of the sewn text also
of book conservation. enables the production of various historical appearances of
either laced or cased historical binding.
A DA P TAT I O N O F H I S T O R I C A L M E T H O D T O The sewn board type features a text with little or no
C O N T E M P O RA R Y N E E D S shouldering and, therefore, no damaging or distorting
backing of the outermost gatherings (fig. 4). Historical
Adaptation of historical
technique and structural pro-
totype to wider practice is an
established approach of mod-
ern book conservation.2 Such
adaptation has focused on
Western methods associated
with text sewing onto sup-
ports of cord or tawed thong.
More recently historical case
construction technique has
been adapted to rebinding
work. Also, adaptations from
Western stationers’ trade
methods, including non-
adhesive long stitch
structures and various types Fig. 3. Unsupported sewing Fig. 4. Sewn board binding spine shape
36 The Book and Paper Group Annual 23 (2004)

SEWN BOARD TECHNIQUES

D I R E C T E D T O B E S T A P P L I C AT I O N S

Various general applications of sewn board

technique to book conservation practice were
considered. Some applications were confirmed
as beneficial and practical while other applica-
tions proved impractical.

Text Block Reconstruction

Essentially all of the types of text block
reconstruction, either sewing repair or
resewing, can be done easily and effectively
using the chains of stitches associated with the
sewn board prototype. An especially effective
start-up pattern for the first two gatherings was
developed by Carlo Mori. This castellated, all-
Fig. 5. Sewn card folio board structure along pattern provides a very secure start for
the stitch chains (fig. 8).
examples are exemplary in the application of strong, flexi-
ble back lining of linen that is carried well over onto the Book Repair
outer surface of the boards. Adhesion of the linen linings is Typical board rehinging work involves repair of a
frequently reinforced by subsequent endband sewing. The rounded and backed, tight joint binding. Such features are
feature of uninterrupted bonding of a textile lining aug- historically and structurally unrelated to the sewn board
mented with endband sewing is easily utilized in book
conservation text forwarding.
The use of a sewn card folio board as adopted for much
of the work in this project is a feature taken directly from
historical method (fig. 5). The sewn folio board was origi-
nally a cartonnage of papyrus produced by pasting together
the leaves of the outer gatherings of the book. This solution
of the integration of flexible leaves and rigid covers, of car-
tonnage and free leaves, into a single book structure is
ingenious and deserves reintroduction into the techniques
of book craft generally.
The folio card foundation can be augmented with
inserts within and outside the folio (fig. 6). These adhered
inserts can be shaped with inner and outer gutter edge
bevels to accommodate various thread swellings in the text Fig. 6. Folio card foundation augmented with an insert
block to produce the shoulder seated fit of work of the
wooden board era. This method eliminates time consum-
ing construction of lacing paths through the boards in
applications when the sewn board design is used in place of
laced board design.
The docile, flat opening action provides a full gutter
reveal and greatly facilitates scanning, copying, and exhi-
bition, particularly with modern illustrated reference works
( fig. 7). The squareless, or flush, size of both cover and text
prevents distortion and sagging in upright shelving. The
leverage of the boards is directly transmitted to the back
plane of the text, there being no set-back of the boards
away from the folds of the endpapers.
Fig. 7. Unsupported sewing structure allows the book to open
fully to the gutter
Frost Application of Sewn Board Technique to Book Conservation Practice 37

Fig. 8. Start-up pattern for the chain stitch developed by Carlo

Mori

model. Board rehinging repairs can be augmented by sewn

board technique using thread tacketing methods that relate
to both through the board (Ethiopian) and around the
board (Coptic) sewn board attachment types. However
other, more productive, non-mechanical approaches to
interior hinge repair and outer joint reconstruction are not
related to sewn board technique. Such a non-mechanical
repair approach is very well represented by the method
developed by Alan Puglia and Priscilla Anderson using
paper and Lascaux resin (Anderson and Puglia 2003).
Principles of sewn board action are naturally adapted to
adhesive binding where options for treatment of failed Fig. 9. Sewn-board model on a printed book, showing a raised-
publishers’ adhesive bound books are needed. This genre band appearance
of work has been greatly facilitated by the recent develop-
ment of a precision vertical plow by Tim Moore of
Concord, Michigan.4 Now, quick binding designs are sion of back linings and also enables great variation in
needed to develop the entire method.5 appearance of the cover (fig. 9).
A variety of sewn board rebinding projects have been
Restoration of Bindings completed at the conservation lab of the University of
The method and construction of sewn board attach- Iowa Libraries. These case histories include (1) a late sev-
ment does not improve or augment the standard methods enteenth-century Hagadda; (2) an atlas, Philadelphia, 1854;
of publishers’ cloth cover restoration technique. Even (3) Drawings of C. D. Gibson, 1900; and (4) a Bible, Arion
though a standard method involves rebuilding case con- Press, 2000.
struction using an in-boards sequence, the sewn board 1. Late seventeenth-century Hagadda: A fully successful
methods provide no benefit and present some complica- application of sewn board technique with moderate weight
tion. Likewise, the methods are difficult to introduce in linen thread sewing and flatback, unshouldered forward-
conventions of leather binding restoration. ing. The folio card boards have .80 Escaboord insert
provided with a slight inner gutter edge bevel to seat
Rebinding against text thread swelling. The covering is in repair calf
This is the category of the greatest potential for appli- with Cambridge panel sprinkling and blind tooling. The
cation of sewn board technique. It can be widely applied, finished book exemplifies the flat opening desired for
realizing advantages of stitch chain sewing and docile flat opened reference on a table. The appearance is in accord
opening, to any in-boards, “laced” construction rebinding with eighteenth-century leather covered work (fig. 10).
work. The board inserts accommodate variations of thread 2. Atlas, Philadelphia, 1854: The maps are foliated into
swelling, while the smooth back permits effective adhe- gatherings, with endpapers of 70 lb. Mohawk vellum beige
38 The Book and Paper Group Annual 23 (2004)

sewing with wrong grain endpapers. A slight

rounding was established and set with paper
lining. A spine wrapper was produced using
natural linen book cloth which lapped onto the
boards and met 20-pt. filler cards. Colored
paper caps were applied to the boards at the
position of the endgrain reveals. The boards
were covered with VanHeek Brillianta, sand
colored, adhered overall and provided with an
upper board recess panel. The original illus-
trated upper board paper was washed and
buffered and mounted and then applied in
position on the upper board. The appearance is
in accordance with the appearance of the orig-
inal publisher’s case (fig. 12).
4. Bible, Arion Press, 2000: This project con-
trasts sewn board construction with sewing
onto supports as exemplified in the bindings
of the two volumes. The New Testament is
Figs. 10–10a. Late seventeenth-century Hagada rebound in a sewn-board struc- bound in the older type of the late Coptic
ture and finished in the style of an eighteenth-century leather binding sewn board design. The Old Testament is
bound in the newer type of the sixteenth-cen-
tury service book design (fig. 13).

paper. Sewn board forwarding was used with folio card New Binding
boards and inner beveled Escaboord inserts. A spine wrap- The sewn board structure was adapted for archival
per was produced using natural linen book cloth which reformatting and replacement copy binding. New archival
lapped onto the boards and met 20-pt. filler cards. The binding is associated with reformatting of unbound fasci-
boards were covered with VanHeek Brillianta, faded plum cles and album type reformats of loose prints and
color, drummed on. The appearance is in accordance with documents. As such, the application is straightforward with
mid nineteenth-century American cloth bindings with card folio boards and an unadhered card wrapper sewn into
board papers. The opening action is fully suited to scan- the text block with the upper board. Another application
ning or display (fig. 11). is replacement copy binding associated with bound shelf
3. Drawings of C. D. Gibson, 1900: Landscape format, replacement copies (preservation photocopies) of books
published ink drawings with full display openings desired. too deteriorated to be used. This application includes dou-
The sewn board construction features heavy linen thread ble-fan binding, transfer tape bonded card boards, and
Tyvek covering (Frost n.d.).

C O N C LU S I O N

Application of sewn board technique to book conserva-

tion practice is indicated by the easy adaptation of chain
stitching to reconstruction of an immense variety of previ-
ously sewn texts and preexisting sewing station arrays and
the attribute of non-damaging, flat opening action of chain
stitched texts. The sewn board attachment, based on outer
sewn card folios used in association with text linings,
enables direct transmission of board leverage to produce
non-damaging opening and closing actions.
This book conservation structure is based on historical
prototypes, the historical techniques are adapted to con-
temporary production methods, and the specific sewn
Fig. 11. 1854 Philadelphia atlas rebound in a sewn-board struc- board practice is directed to the best applications.
ture opens fully for scanning or display
Frost Application of Sewn Board Technique to Book Conservation Practice 39

Figs. 12–12a. Americans: Drawn by C. D. Gibson (1900): sewn-board structure with exterior binding preserving the appearance of the orig-
inal publisher’s binding

NOTES 3. Experimental prototypes for application of sewn board

structure to book conservation practice were produced in a work-
1. Chris Clarkson feels that artistic observation accurately dif- shop given by Tony Cains in 1987, but no publications resulted.
ferentiates sewn board from later cord sewn structure. He In subsequent years proposals of sewn board technique for appli-
suggests that pages of the sewn board text are depicted as flat cation in limited edition binding occurred (Abracadabra, 1993,
sheets while the more tightly bound, support sewn pages are BookNote series, BookLab [request copy from author]).
depicted with draping curvature (University of Virginia Rare 4. Tim Moore, Paper Molds & Bookbinding Equipment,
Book School, 2001). 14450 Behling Road, Concord, MI, 49237.
2. Use of historical prototypes include Christopher Clark- 5. A sewn board related method of “Paperback Rebinding at a
son’s adaptation of Renaissance Italian vellum binding (Red Gull Library Repair Station” was reported to the Library Collections
Press, 1982), Robert Espinosa’s adaptation of later European Conservation Discussion Group of the American Institute for
wooden boarded binding (Brepols, 1996), or Thomas Albro’s Conservation in June of 1998.
adaptation of archival long stitch binding.
REFERENCES

Anderson, Priscilla, and Alan Puglia. 2003. Solvent-set

book repair tissue. Book and Paper Group Annual 22.
Frost, Gary. n.d. Transfer tape binding. BookNote series.
Austin, TX: BookLab. [Request copy from author].
Gamble, Harry Y. 1995. Books and readers in the early church.
New Haven, CT: Yale University Press.
Szirmai, J. A. 1999. The archeology of medieval bookbinding.
Ashgate.

GARY FROST
Conservator
University of Iowa Libraries
Iowa City, Iowa
[email protected]

Fig. 13. Sewn-board structure on an Arion Press Bible (2000)

the New Testament (top) bound in a late Coptic style and the
Old Testament (bottom) in the style of a sixteenth-century ser-
vice book