HISTORY OF BOOKBINDING:

The first books were clay tablets, dating around 3800 BC.  They were scribed with a blunt instrument while the clay was moist and then left to dry in the sun.

Following the clay tablets was the scroll or papyrus roll.  The scroll was created by slitting the plant stems into strips.  Then the strips were soaked in the Nile and left to dry in the sun.  When they dried, they were hammered into sheets and polished with ivory to make a smooth writing surface.  The sheets were then jointed together and rolled for a more convenient method of handling.

Modern day bookbinding began with the change from the roll to the book made up from separate sheets.  The early books were composed of vellum.  The pages or leaves were held together by sewing through the center-fold.  To keep the leaves flat, the books were placed between wooden boards.  Later, the boards were joined to the leaves and leather was wrapped around them.

By the 6^th Century, Monks took the art of binding manuscripts to a high standard.  Between the 10^th and 14^th Century, English Monks brought the art of bookbinding to Europe.

Two major inventions produced books in large quantities.  First, paper was invented by the Chinese around 200 BC.  In the late 1400?s, the first paper mill was established in England.  Second, movable type was invented by Johann Gutenburg in 1456. 

The introduction of printing gave impetus to bookbinding.  The early 16^th Century was one of the finest periods of decorative bookbinding.  However, England suffered a gradual decline until the end of the 18^th Century.  Roger Payne restored English binding with his fine small tools and original designs.  Towards the end of the 19^th Century, modern bookbinding techniques were perfected into a fine art.