Bookbinding as Chick Lit

Bärbels fröhliche Lehrzeit (Bärbel's Happy Apprenticeship) by Felix Riemkasten written in 1953 is a charming piece of teen lit. for women. Illustrations by Christa W. Gräfin von der Schulenburg.

After the death of her father, Bärbel, at age 14, needs to leave school to take up an apprenticeship rather than going on to university like her eldest brother (She was a straight A student). She loves books, bookbinding isn't too strenuous (says her mother), ... What could go wrong? Nothing actually, mostly, and after finding an apprenticeship her first task is cleaning the store room (very familiar to me). Then there are challenges in dealing with the Altgeselle (Journeyman who never moved on to become a master), being the only woman, ... However, she's an ambitious over-achiever, pushes herself to learn new things, wants to create fine bindings and open new markets... A fun read that is remarkably accurate in its portrayal of many of the realities of apprenticeship, its descriptions of tools and equipment, and is up-beat, cheerful, and even empowering.

Bärbel pointing out some of her bindings in a book store window.

Although Germany had been relatively "progressive" about women as apprentices..., Bärbel was the first woman to apprentice with Buchbindermeister Schwannecke. All apprentices were referred to as "Junge" (boy), and Bärbel was also referred to as this... Bärbel's gender was also something that led to regular disputes with the Altgeselle, a journeyman who never progressed beyond that stage and was largely responsible for the day-to-day work and apprentices.

Bärbel heaving a sewing frame loaded with books through the bindery... Why? To demonstrate on her first day that she could carry her weight. Would be easier and safer to carry if held lower...

As woman, Bärbel was naturally perceived to be weaker, something of a liability in a trade that required great stamina working while standing and carrying heavy loads... Hence, carrying the loaded sewing frame on her first day... Of course, she first had to identify the sewing frame never having seen one...The number and size (as well as dangerous) of the equipment and tools also intimidated her.

Among the adjustments was also that learning a trade as an apprentice was not a warm and fuzzy environment filled with mutual respect... Praise was scant, even when the work was well done, and apprentices (and journeymen) were chastised in the presence of others.

As part of her apprenticeship, Bärbel also had to go to trade school - the great equalizer where apprentices learned those things they might not learn in the shop... This was an experience she enjoyed, in large part because it was not the "bunker" her shop was.

Bärbel also learned about the value of acquiring the best tools and equipment very early on, and invested heavily in herself, often at the expense of a nice new dress... Fortunately, she was also able to borrow some equipment like hand presses or sewing frame so that she could practice at home...

Wrapped up in her ongoing conflict with the Journeyman was also the realization that it was very important to set personal goals for oneself, and that not to do so was to hold oneself back. For her, this meant going beyond mastering just the day-to-day skills, but taking it to the next level.

The book also did a good job of describing the types of jobs that came in, from repairing textbooks, to binding ledgers for businesses, to journals for libraries, ... This was the kind of work that sustained small trade binderies, and subsidized the more demanding work. It was also the kind of work that "allowed" apprentices to develop chops via rote memorization (of mind and hands), not her favorite. Via a conservation with another apprentice, she learns about his motivation for stealing, with his eyes, picking up tricks and new techniques. Bärbel is his favorite for this as she does the most beautiful work.

In terms of techniques, one of the best descriptions is for when Bärbel learns about decorated papers, and how to make and apply these. For her, this is also when she realizes even more what the design possibilities can be, and how to set her work apart. In some respects it felt the Bibliophile listening to the Master in Ernst Collin's Pressbengel (Bone Folder).

In the end, Bärbel passed her Gesellenprüfung ending her apprenticeship, but she stayed on at the bindery. First though, time to forget about the bindery and go dancing...

Bärbel gets to go dancing but is encouraged to wear gloves because of calluses...

Newly minted as a journeyman binder, Bärbel seeks out venues for showing her work, and perhaps earning some extra income. A local bookstore is more than happy to display her work in their shop window, also indicating that customers can contact her via the store. Ironically, she has very little success in attracting work. She does gain a patron of sorts in her brother who was at university and is now doing well, binding books for him (and his friends...). This eventually catches the attention of the (now other) journeyman who rats her out to the Meister. Without her Meister and the license to run her own shop she cannot legally do this kind of work on the side. However, after reprimanding her more for using shop resources without permission and compensation, he senses opportunities for his business and adds Kunstbuchinderei to his name. This gives him more prestige, and with Bärbel's skills that he acknowledges are more refined than his, a broader pallet of services. The other Journeyman gets reproached for being a busy-body, and further when learning that she is earning more than him, and as a girl no less, plans for further revenge. This back fires, or as is said in German "geht in die Hose" (went to his pants), literally. Bärbel, meanwhile, continues to be allowed to borrow equipment, and is quite happy with the situation.

The cranky Journeyman's pants are glued to the stool as a prank, and torn out. The other apprentice got sent to his apartment to grab a new pair...

The frontispiece: That's a heavy load that she's carrying on her shoulder. She's carrying a book in a finishing press through town, just like on the other occasions when she borrows equipment from the shop to keep working on her own books at home...

Finally getting a binding job via the book store, she gets to know a Frau Director Feld, a woman who is very successful and independent in her life. This Frau Feld becomes her patron in the classic sense, giving her commissions, discussing bookbinding with the interest of Collin's Bibliophile, but even more. Asking her to leave her portfolio of designs, materials, and decorated papers, she shows these to like-minded friends, but also arranges a tea in her home where Bärbel gets to meet these friends and give her pitch. While very surprised by this scenario, she is very prepared, poised, and confident.

Bärbel confidently and enthusiastically at work.

One of the guests mentions an upcoming competition for a new guest book for the city (every village, town, city, ... had one). Open to all, Bärbel enters a design finely executed on a sample binding. She is heart-broken to learn that she did not win having been beaten by established artists, and is told by Frau Feld that the gentleman who encouraged her to enter was doing so largely in jest – she was still very young and inexperienced, and the winners were established and highly respected artists. She did, however, come in fourth and her work was exhibited with the winners, a consolation. Her Meister was appropriately proud, and wanted her to remain with him to do the higher end work that she had been bringing to the bindery – who would do it if she left... Frau Feld had other ideas however and had been busy networking to find Bärbel a position in a large trade bindery where she would work in the extra binding department. Having worked in the same bindery for her apprenticeship and journeyman years, she had very limited perspectives and alternative experiences. Moving on would be very important for her professional development, something the Meister also realized.

The [binding] world was hers for the taking, and with her drive, passion, and the help of patrons and mentors she would succeed.

Bärbel dedicating a guest book she bound to her patron.

So, from this 54 yr curmudgeon, a fun read loaded with accurate descriptions of the trade and apprenticeship in general, positive and encouraging, and with the complications of teen love and its associated drama. Based on my personal experiences as an apprentice in Germany during the 1980s, I found the portrayal of the Meister and his relationships with the others fair and largely accurate - apprenticeship is not summer camp, management style ranging from brusque to encouraging, what we would expect in the traditional trades. For someone like Bärbel who was academically strong and would have gone on to university, the contrast would have been stark and revealed crass differences in class and educational background, as well. Throughout though, Bärbel and the Meister handled themselves and each other well, and the real antagonisms were expressed through the journeyman who never showed any drive or enthusiasm, but was jealous of those who did. Ultimately his behaviour had him strongly reprimanded – shape up or ship out – and he and Bärbel came to an understanding. Finally, there was Frau Feld, a successful and cultured woman whose strong support (and some enabling) opened many doors for Bärbel, doors that she walked through with confidence to close the deals that Frau Feld had started.

Thinking that this book might have been reviewed, or at least mentioned, in Das Falzbein, THE journal for bookbinding apprentices I leafed through my complete run page-by-page starting in 1952. Alas, nothing, disappointing because I think the book could have encouraged readers to at least consider our craft. I did, however, find numerous images of female apprentices and art school students who could have been models for Bärbel.

So anything like this appear in English or another language?

See also my post about Babette, Bärbel's long lost and secret older sister?, aka Babette bindet Bücher.

Both books can be found via various online antiquarian platforms:

• Babette bindet Bücher (1935)
• Bärbels fröhliche Lehrzeit (1953)

 

Bookbinding and Ideology

On the Print blog (3/10/17), Steven Heller wrote a piece titled "Normalized Letterheads":

By 1936 the Nazis were firmly in place in all aspects of government, society and culture. Gleichschaltung was the term for standardizing or normalizing the Nazi aberration. It meant that every aspect of the Third Reich followed the dictates of the ideological wing of the state and party. These innocent-looking letterheads, void of political references, were examples of that Gleichschaltung imposed on the design and printing industries.

This Gleichschaltung was applied uniformly across all media, trades, social organizations, ..., aligning and subordinating all to the dictates of the state in all regards. Indoctrination started in the schools, youth organizations, and trade schools that all apprentices attended. Der Buchbinderlehrling (The Bookbinding Apprentice) was the journal for apprentices with subjects included social studies, math, and science as they related to binding. This also included paper making, leather tanning and parchment making, cloth, and in-depth engineering of bookbinding machines. During its run from 1927-1943 one is struck by how insidiously this Gleichschaltung progressed in the years after 1933, with the apprentices thoroughly indoctrinated so that there was no longer any difference between the trade and ideology. In the same vein the teachers at the trade schools/art academies were required to be party members, especially if civil servants, joining either out of conviction or expedience in some sort of Faustian bargain...

Typography for book titles from Der Buchbinderlehrling, Vol. 9, Nr. 7, 1935.

While some of title designs may seem "innocent looking," this ideological aesthetic was applied not only to bindings, but also presentation materials, desk accessories, just about everything bookbinders made forcefully, with many examples in the trade literature of the time. Prominent among these was Hitler's Mein Kampf.

Under the pseudonym “Nicolli,” Ernst Collin wrote in Der Buchbinderlehrling what can best be described as a tragic review of 1933’s national bookbinding competition on Hitler’s Mein Kampf. He wrote that in binding this book the German bookbinding trade could demonstrate its commitment to Hitler and to taking on the challenges and demands that lay ahead. The trades, publishing, social organizations, and just about every other aspect of life were quickly brought to reflect the party line under “Gleichschaltung.” As a “servant” of the arts and crafts, bookbinding was given a special standing, and binding Mein Kampf in a dignified and appropriate manner was a way to demonstrate this standing. To demonstrate the new collective mindset, the names of none of the participants or winners were mentioned. Stating that this was not the place to describe individual bindings, he went on to write that given the nature and importance of the book it was clear that many of the bindings would include the black, white, and red of Imperial Germany and the Third Reich, with the swastika a key element. However, Ernst noted also that including these elements did not make for good design that would inspire and demonstrate respect. He concluded that the book could not become a playground for overwrought designs and gimmicks, challenging binders to think about and prepare themselves for increasing amounts of this kind of work. ([Nicolli]. “Ein Zeitgemäßer Wettbewerb.” Der Buchbinderlehrling, Vol. 7, Nr. 12, 1933. (167-168))

While no images from the 1933 bookbinding competition were found in Der Buchbinderlehrling, below two, one by an Martin Lehmann, an apprentice/student of Franz Weiße, and one by a master and one of the leading teachers of the day (Professors at art academies and trade schools), Hugo Wagner.

Martin Lehmann's apprentice/student binding on Mein Kampf.
From Der Buchbinderlehrling. Vol. 10, Nr. 6, 1937.
In the article the image accompanied he described his motivations and design choices a "flag red" leather for the  binding, white type, and black for the eagle, all based on the Nazi flag. About the eagle he wrote that it was based on the Luftwaffe insignia because it was more "dainty," yet aggressive and full of life, ready to take up the fight against all that is false...

Martin Lehmann with Franz Weiße
From Der Buchbinderlehrling. Vol. 11, Nr.11, 1938.

Binding by Hugo F. Wagner, Breslau, on the occasion of his 25th anniversary as a teacher.
From Der Buchbinderlehrling. Vol. 10, Nr. 12, 1937.

Bindings by Hugo Wagner from Vom Buchbinderlehrling zum Buchbindemeister (1941)

Otto Dorfner, Weimar, was another one of the leading teachers during this time, and will be featured in due time, also because he remained in the Soviet occupation zone (the DDR) after the war and continued working. One of Germany's greatest design binders, he studied under Paul Kersten, founded his school in Weimar, taught at the Bauhaus, and elsewhere, helped found the Meister der Einbandkunst... Below another binding on Mein Kampf by one of his students, Willi Fischer.

Binding by Dorfner student Willi Fischer on Mein Kampf.
From the Allgemeiner Anzeiger für Buchbindereien, Nr. 27, 1936.

Another teacher was Heinrich Lüers, Magdeburg, best known for Das Fachwissen des Buchbinders that appeared in several editions, including one postwar with a new introduction by his Gustav Moessner. It is very interesting to compare the editions, especially as the politically charged ones have been scrubbed out. Lüers also edited Vom Buchbinderlehrling zum Buchbindemeister (1941) for the Reichsinnungsverband des Buchbinderhandwerks (the national bookbinding guild), a pamphlet produced by the BDBI describing the trade and requirements designed to attract new apprentices and others. Like Lüer's book, this too was republished after the war in a sanitized edition. After all, why waste an otherwise significant text, and Das Fachwissen is one of the best of its genre and incredibly comprehensive.

Lüers concluded his pamphlet by stating that during the (still rather young) war, bookbinding had proven itself to a secure trade, and able to withstand any crisis and serve the German people. He ended with a quote by Hitler praising the German trades...

Below, Franz Weiße (Wiemeler's teacher), Erhard Klette, Otto Dorfner, and Hugo Wagner jurying the 1938 apprentice competition. Dorfner and Wagner appear to be wearing party insignia on cravat and lapel, and Klette was an influential publisher in the field, including the Archiv für Buchbinderei and the Jahrbuch der Einbandkunst.

Franz Weiße, Erhard Klette, Otto Dorfner, and Hugo Wagner jurying the 1938 apprentice competition.
From Der Buchbinderlehrling, Vol. 12, Nr. 5,1938.

See also this post about Frieda Thiersch's similar work during this period, "Hitler's Bookbinder." Her biography, Frieda Thiersch und ihre Handbuchbinderei (1968), by Fritz Krinitz mentions little and illustrates even less of her work from this period.

So, imagine if this scenario were to return... No, let's not go there.

Practicing and Teaching Endbands

For practicing and teaching endbands, I first started out with little sewn textblocks, then chopped up telephone books (remember those) or directories, then thought to myself "why not wrap a core in gauze/super and sandwich between two boards..." That worked great, but just preparing the things was a pain. Eventually discovered coroplast making things perfectly easy.

Donia's and my poster from the Guild of Book Workers' 2003
Standards of Excellence conference in Denver, CO.

For a book artist's take on this, and really what inspired me to keep them as a strip on the card, see this example by Susan Joy Share from the Guild of Book Workers' 100th anniversary exhibition. This was part of a series and I am glad to call one my own.

The images below were largely drawn from a poster I did with Donia Conn for the Guild of Book Workers' Standards conference. Our bibliography for endbands is at http://www.philobiblon.com/bibliography-endbands.shtml. My favorite sources are for great diagrams:

• Gast, Monica,  A History of Endbands Based on a Study by Karl Jäckel.  The New Bookbinder.  Vol. 3, pp. 42-58, 1983.
• Guiffrida, Barbara, Book Conservation Workshop Manual Part Three: Endbands.  The New Bookbinder.  Vol. 2, pp. 29-39, 1982.
• Jäckel, Karl, Alte Techniken des Buchbinderhandwerks in der modernen Schriftgutrestaurierung, 2: Das Kapital. [The Endband.] Bibliotheksforum Bayern. Vol. 3, pp. 207-219, 1975. 

Rodrigo Ortega (?) also has a very nicely presented gallery at http://www.artesdellibro.com.mx/encuadernacion/cabezadas.

Because it doesn't always have to be hand-sewn... Hand-made stuck on endbands can look great, especially on smaller/thinner books. Below an assortment all wrapped around 18/3 linen thread, a nice thickness. Materials include leather, cloth, and decorated papers...

Stuck-on endbands

For those teaching endband workshops or needing something bigger to conceptualize the process, I developed the demonstrator below with my brother who's a woodworker. Big dowl is 1" dia... Using thinner "climbers" rope in two colors. The idea came from workshop attendee who didn't want to get to close, he liked being in the back row, but still wanted to see. Normally not an enabler in those circumstances, but the idea was brilliant. Brother made three, I kept one, one for Donia, and I sent one to the one whose idea it was...

Getting teaching tool set up.

Core dropped on teaching tool.

Finished 2-core endband.

Endview of teaching tool.

For a wooden boards binding of an Icelandic saga, hand copied by the client. Textblock had originally been oversewn and library-bound. He decided he wanted something nicer... Made the clasps, too. The endband I first learned at the Centro del bel Libro in Ascona, CH after diagrams by Karl Jäckel.

Primary endband.

Braided leather added after covering.

The clasps I made.

Finished book in box.

Mehr W. Collin Einbände - More W. Collin Bindings

[English below]

Seit ich angefangen habe, den Spuren von Ernst und W. Collin nachzugehen und das Gefundene online zu teilen, erhalte und schätze ich Emails von Sammlern, Antiquaren und Bibliothekaren.  Sie bieten mir Anregungen, Hinweise, Bilder von Einbänden und üben Kritik.

Der Einband unten Die wahre Geschichte des Clavigo (Hamburg, 1774) wurde von W. Collin gebunden. Der Inhaber, Günter Trauzettel, ein Antiquar, schickte mir die Bilder mit der Frage, ob ich bei der Datierung helfen könnte. Der Pergamenteinband über Holzdeckel mit Spiegel und Vorsatz aus Seide ist vergoldet. Zudem hat der Einband einen Kopfgoldschnitt, ist zweiseitig unbeschnitten und dazu "schief eingebunden."

Es ist schwierig den Einband zu datieren. W. Collin wurde 1845 in Berlin etabliert. Der Einband selbst sieht anhand der eher weicheren/runden (nicht eckig) Einschlägen und Falz älter aus. Holzdeckel an einem Pergamenteinband aus dem späten 19./20. Jahrhundert sind eher ungewöhnlich, doch läßt sich das nicht leicht nachweisen - der Antiquar vermutet Holz wegen des Geräusches beim "Klopfen." Der Stempel lautet nicht "Hofbuchbinder",  nur W.Collin Berlin. Der gleiche Stempel befindet sich auch in der Bernsteinhexe und ist in meinem Einband von Les Poèmes Dorés (1920) auf Seite 23 von Die Collins zu finden, sowie unten bei W. Collin Mappe und Etikette.

Die wahre Geschichte des Clavigo (Hamburg, 1774)

Die wahre Geschichte des Clavigo (Hamburg, 1774)
Seidener Spiegel | Silk doublure

Die wahre Geschichte des Clavigo (Hamburg, 1774)
W. Collin Stempel | W. Collin stamp

 Ein Beispiel für einen W. Collin Einband in einer Bibliothekssammlung ist Die Geschichte der Berliner Buchbinder-Innung während zweier Jahrhunderte, 1882, aus den Beständen der Berliner Staatsbibliothek. W. Collin war Innungsmitglied, als die Berliner eine Zwangsinnung war.

Am anderen Ende des Spektrums sind die Einbanddecken, die W. Collin für Verlage herstellte. Verlagsdecken beschrieb ich in einem früheren Beitrag, und es überraschte mich, einen Hinweis für diese in der Kunstzeitschrift Pan von 1898 zu finden. Der Hinweis stammt aus Skizzen und Buchschmuck aus der Kunstzeitschrift Pan, 1898, und ist auf Seite 31 der PDF

Hinweis zu W. Collin Einbanddecken
Notice about W. Collin book covers

Unten der erwähnte Entwurf von Ludwig von Hofmann aus Skizzen und Buchschmuck aus der Kunstzeitschrift Pan, sowie die Decke an Pan aus den digitalen Sammlungen der Universitätsbibliothek Heidelberg.

Pan: Entwurf von Hofmann
Pan: Design by Hoffman

Pan: Einbanddecke
Pan: Cover

W. Collin erhielt auch Aufträge für die Bibliothek von Harry Graf Kessler. Diese wurden nach Entwürfen von Henry van de Velde ausgeführt etwa um 1907, vor der Etablierung der Buchbindewerkstatt der Kunstgewerbeschule in Weimar. Die Einbände zählen jetzt zu den Beständen der Herzogin Anna Amalia Bibliothek (HAAB) in Weimar, die 61 Titel im Katalog aufführt. Viele wurden in Leder oder Pergament mit bedruckten Papier/Leinwand bezogenen Deckeln eingebunden. Andere sind in ganz Leinwand oder englischem Buckram gebunden. (Insgesammt hat die HAAB  über 90 Einbände von W. Collin.)

So Sellinat und Simon-Ritz über die Einbaende von W. Collin in "Henry van de Velde als Buch- und Bibliotheksgestalter in Weimar," Imprimatur: ein Jahrbuch für Bücherfreunde. N.F. 23. 2013. München: Ges. der Bibliophilen. (S. 305-322):

"Die Qualität der Verlagsausgaben kann mit den auf Dauer und Solidität angelegten Einbänden nicht in jedem Fall wetteifern. So schützen zwölf Pergamenteinbände mit stabilen Deckeln eine Sammlung einzelner Schopenhauer-Titel aus Reclams Universal-Bibliothek um 1900. Eine tatsächliche Arbeits- und Reisebibliothek von »Taschenbüchern « nach dem Verständnis des 19. Jahrhunderts!"

Van de Velde entwarf auch Kesslers Wohnung und Bibliothek, welche beim Deutsches Dokumentationszentrum für Kunstgeschichte - BildarchivFoto Marburg betrachtet werden können.

Der Aufsatz ist auch sonst sehr interessant und wertvoll, was Buchgestaltung und Buchbinderei während dieser Zeit betrifft, besonders, wo es um Gebrauchseinbände geht. Leider ist er nicht online verfügbar, deshalb mein Dank an Herrn Sellinat, ihn mit mir zu teilen.

ENGLISH

One of the best things that has happened since I began sharing my work around Ernst Collin and W. Collin is that I have received increasing numbers of emails from collectors, antiquarians, and librarians sharing their bindings and information.

The binding below on Die wahre Geschichte des Clavigo (Hamburg, 1774) that was bound by W. Collin. Günter Trauzettel, an Antiquarian in Germany, shared the pictures asking whether I had any information that might help date it. The full vellum binding [over wooden boards] is gold tooled, is gilt on the top edge with the fore- and tail-edges uncut, and silk doublures and flyleaves. In addition, he noticed that the book was bound "crookedly." Looking at the image of the doublure one can also notice a "lump" in the silk hinge where it goes under the doublures at top and bottom.

Dating the book is difficult. W. Collin was established 1845 in Berlin. The binding itself looks older based on the less sharply define joints, corners, ... Wooden boards on a vellum binding of this time would be very unusual, but the dealer feels certain that they are wood based on a "knock test" - it sounds like wood. Unfortunately, there is no damage... that would allow a peek into the boards. The binder stamp does not mention "Hofbuchbinder..," just "W.Collin Berlin." The same stamp was also found on the Bernsteinhexe and my binding of Les Poèmes Dorés (1920) on page 21 of The Collins and at bottom of W. Collin Mappe und Etikette.

[Images 1-3]

An example of a W. Collin binding in a library collection is Die Geschichte der Berliner Buchbinder-Innung während zweier Jahrhunderte (The History of the Bookbinding Guild Berlin Over Two Centuries), 1882, comes from the Berlin State Library. W. Collin were on-again off-again members of the Guild, with membership in the Guild not always required (Zwangsinnung).

On the other end of the bookbinding spectrum, W. Collin also provided covers for periodicals. I described these in an earlier post, and was surprised to find mention of W. Collin providing these, in this case for the journal Pan. The mention was found in Skizzen und buchschmuck aus der kunstzeitschrift Pan, 1898, on page 31 of the PDF.

[Image 4]  

Below the cover design by Ludwig von Hofmann from Skizzen und buchschmuck aus der kunstzeitschrift Pan, with the actual cover from the Universitätsbibliothek Heidelberg's digital collections.

[Image 5-6]

W. Collin was also responsible for binding many volumes designed by Henry van de Velde for the Library of Harry Graf Kessler. These were bound around 1907, before the establishment of the bookbinding workshop at the Kunstgewerbeschule in Weimar, 1907. They are now in the collection of the Herzogin Anna Amalia Bibliothek (HAAB) in Weimar with 61 titles recorded. The bindings for many of these are in leather or vellum with printed paper or linen sides. Others are bound in linen or English buckram. These "simpler" W. Collin bindings are described by Sellinat and Simon-Ritz as being closer to publishers bindings in quality, and indeed the textblocks in many cases are from Reclam's Universal Bibliothek and similar.

Van de Velde also designed Kessler's apartment and library. Images can be seen in the Deutsches Dokumentationszentrum für Kunstgeschichte - BildarchivFoto Marburg.From Frank Sellinat und Frank Simon-Ritz. "Henry van de Velde als Buch- und Bibliotheksgestalter in Weimar," Imprimatur: ein Jahrbuch für Bücherfreunde. N.F. 23. 2013. München: Ges. der Bibliophilen. (S. 305-322). The illustrated article also highly interesting and valuable for its treatment of book design and binding, especially for books meant to be used. The article is not available online, and I am thankful to Mr. Sellinat for sharing it with me.

Overall, the HAAB holds over 90 volumes bound by W. Collin.

Bookbinders and Pizza Cutters

I was given this wood engraving of a bookbinder years ago, and always wondered where it was from as it had obviously been removed from a book... In the course of cleaning up, actually took it out of the frame, scanned it, and searched on Google Images using the scan. Great tool for IDing things or at least narrowing them down... In this case, the image was used on several blogs, most not attributing it to anything, including those of special collections type libraries. Alas...

My copy. Where did it come from...?

Image is from the 1824 edition of The Book of English Trades. There were numerous editions of this text with differing illustrations for the trades, and a varying selection of trades. HathiTrust has many of these editions online, and by comparing the image and where it appears was able to conclude it was from the 1824 edition because the image was on the verso facing the text. The 1827 edition has it on the other side... In the 1818 edition a different bookbinder faces the other way.

1824, position and image match my copy.

1827, same image, but on facing page.

1818, different binder facing in opposite direction.
The number of rolls on the rack in the background varies, too.

And, on the subject of racks of rolls, and because it's past lunchtime, here a picture of "pizza cutters" I recently added to my collection...

"Pizza cutters"

Verso of "Pizza cutters"

Lunch...

Neuere Pressbengel Auflagen | Later Pressbengel Editions

Der Pressbengel von Ernst Collin erschien 1922 in einer Auflage von 1000 normalen Exemplaren, und  30 Exemplaren auf Zandersbütten die handschriftlich signiert und numeriert wurden.

Ab 1984 wurde Der Pressbengel vom Mandragora Verlag in mehreren illustrierten Auflagen mit Einleitung von Gustav Moessner neu herausgegeben. Größe der ersten Auflage war 1000 Exemplare, von der 150 Exemplare als Edelpappband mit handgemachtem Buntpapier, 500 Exemplare als Pappband und 350 in losen Bogen zum Einbinden erschienen. Die zweite Auflage erschien 1989 in 1000 Exemplaren. Illustriert wurden diese Auflagen von Leopold Reiser. Von der dritten Auflage von 1992 mit Illustrationen von Andreas Raub fehlen die Angaben zu der Anzahl von Exemplaren. Es gab auch eine „Geschenkauflage“ basierend auf der 2ten Auflage, wie die zum 25ten Jubiläum der Buchbinderei Hans Ehe.

Ernst Collin's Pressbengel first appeared 1922 in a regular edition of 1000 copies, and 30 signed and numbered copies on Zanders rag paper/

Beginning in 1984, the Pressbengel was republished by the Mandragora Verlag in several illustrated editions with introduction by Gustav Moessner. Size of the first edition was 1,000 copies with 150 copies bound as millimeter bindings with handmade decorated papers, 500 bound in paper case bindings, and 350 left unbound for binders. The 2nd edition was published with 1,000 copies. These were illustrated with drawings by Leopold Reiser. There was no indication of size for the 3rd edition illustrated by Andreas Raub. The text was also available in a promotional “give-away” edition based on 2nd edition of 1989 for clients such as that made for the Buchbinderei Hans Ehe on the occasion of its 25th anniversary.

Links, Einbande für die regulären Mandragora Ausgaben, rechts Sondereinband für die Buchbinderei Hans Ehe.

Binding at left for the regular Mandragora editions, at right in the binding for Buchbinderei Hans Ehe.

Titelblatt und Abbildung für Vergoldung aus der ersten [und 2.] Mandragora Ausgabe, Leopold Reiser illus.

Title page and illustration for “finishing” from first [and 2nd] Mandragora edition, Leopold Reiser illus.

Titelblatt und Abbildung für Vergoldung aus der dritten Mandragora Ausgabe, Andreas Raub illus.

Title page and illustration for “finishing” from third Mandragora edition, Andreas Raub illus.

Kolophon der ersten Ausgabe

Colophon of the first edition

Beim Erscheinen von Die Collins hatte ich leider kein Exemplar der Vorzugsausgaben vom Mandragora Verlag und Josef Weiss finden können. Jetzt aber habe ich sie!

When The Collins appeared I had not been able to locate copies of the deluxe editions from the Mandragora Verlag or Josef Weiss. Now I have them!

Edelpappband für die Vorzugsausgaben aller Auflagen.
mit Lederschienen an Ober- und Unterkante und Öltunkpapier. Dieses Exemplar #16 der 1. Auflage.

"Millimeter" binding for the deluxe editions with leather trim at top and bottom,
and marbled paper using oil paints. This example #16 from the 1st edition.

Der Pressbengel wurde 1996 von Josef Weiss als Dal Rilegatore d’Arte mit Abbildungen aus verschiedenen historischen Fachbüchern ins Italienische übersetzt. Größe der Auflage war 1000 Exemplare, davon 400 als Pappband, 100 in Leder gebunden, und 500 in losen Bögen zum Einbinden.

The Pressbengel was translated into Italian in 1996 as Dal Rilegatore d’Arte with illustrations drawn from various historic bookbinding manuals. Size of the edition was 1,000 with 400 copies bound in paper, 100 bound in leather, and 500 copies left unbound for binders.

Die reguläre italienische Ausgabe von 1996.

The regular Italian edition of 1996.

Doppelseitenansicht zu Vergolden.

Page spread for "finishing."

Kolophon | Colophon

Die italienische Vorzugsausgabe von 1996, dieses Exemplar #100.
Geheftet auf Pergamentriemen mit Lederrücken und Papier bezogene Deckel.

The Italian deluxe edition from 1996. This copy #100.
Sewn on parchment slips with leather spine and paper covered boards.