The purpose of this book is to give reliable information on all branches of bookbinding. Modern machinery has brought about great changes in the bookbinding trade. In edition work, for example, the speed of production is much increased, and the cost reduced. The principles which underlie hand work, however, still govern the mechanical operations, and so every binder should be familiar with hand methods, even if he does not practise them. Fine binding is still executed by hand in the workshops of Rivière, Sangorski and Sutcliffe, Zaehnsdorf, and others, where every book receives individual attention.