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Tapley example

Title

Subject

example binding

Description

The binding is a variant on Jean De Gonet's exposed sewing and Renaissance slotted spine structures. The text block was very lightly trimmed to somewhat even the text, the head was gilt and sprinkled, pastedowns of suminagashi and kozo papers were prepared, and then the whole sewn on five linen tapes using blue linen thread followed by the application of glue with pure gelatin, the spine lightly rounded using finger pressure. The swell from sewing was allowed to settle into its natural state with no further manipulation. The areas between the tapes were first lined with thin open weave linen brought over onto the sides along with the sewing tapes and then the areas between the tapes were covered in medium blue Harmatan goat, leaving the sewing exposed. The second, third, and fifth spine panels were titled in gilt. The boards were cut to size away from the book and prepared for a tongue and slot attachment after which the outsides were covered in crushed eggshell, blue Japanese lacquer, and gold leaf. The boards were then lined with edge-to-edge doublures of kozo papers. The sewing tapes on the sides were gilt, the boards then attached by gluing the shaped leather wings and tapes along with their linings into the board slots.

Creator

Source

Jean Genet. Querelle de Brest. Paris: Paul Morihien, 1947.

Publisher

Bridwell Library Special Collections

Date

Rights

This work is protected by copyright law. No commercial reproduction or distribution is permitted. This file may be used for educational uses only, provided it is not altered in any way, and the copyright line is cited. (Bridwell Library Special Collections, SMU).

Format

Displayed as .jpg

Language

Type

Book

Collection

The 7th DeGolyer Competition

Citation

Genet, Jean, “Tapley example,” Bridwell Library Special Collections Exhibitions, accessed November 12, 2025, https://bridwell.omeka.net/items/show/2303.