This binding is a combination of late Coptic structure with a limp binding leather-covered sewing support cut through outer cover. The boards are sewn as the first and last signatures, then pasted together to make cartonnage boards. When the leather sewing support thongs are then laced through the boards, the book has bound itself to itself, making an ouroboros structure.
Ouroboros binding
Drawing done in July, 2014
Sewing frame with double cords
Cover leather with thongs
Cover Leather glued together
First stitching
Inside of cover with first stitching
Cover with both stitched attachments
Textblock on sewing frame with leather cover set before frame
Text block on sewing frame with leather cover
Sewing stations cut into spine
Sewing as it progresses on the frame
First and last signatures shown before making cartonnage for cover boards
Textblock sitting on cover leather
Determining placement of text block on cover leather.
Cover with sewing support slots cut
Lined textblock in press, awaiting black leather liner
Cover laid over spine of textblock to insure alignment with sewing supports
Spine leather laid on spine of textblock in press
Black leather liner in place, cover laid over for alignment
Template to insure alignment of black leather liner
Black leather liner/support caps in place and laced through
Sewing endbands
Textblock with sewing supports covered, leather cover ready to attach
Cover leather set in place over spine
Pasted up cover leather
Cover leather drawn over cartonnage boards
The Ouroboros process continues. Thongs pulled through to outside cover, ready for lacing.
Pasting up watercolor paper first and last signatures to make the first layer of the Ouroboros structure.
Thongs now laced through cover leather
Wrapping cover leather over cartonnage boards
Cutting endcaps for spine turn-in
Turning in at covers, leaving endcaps exposed
Trimmed cover leather for endcaps
Endcaps turned in, leather ready to turn in around boards
Thongs passing through cover prior to turn-ins
Spine support cover leather showing inside outter leather cover
Turning in leather over cartonnage boards
Cover leather turned-in
Cover over boards, ready for lacing through boards
Holes punched through boards ready for lacing
Thongs laced through cartonnage boards making the Ouroboros binding active
Cartonnage showing laced thongs prior to pasting up endpapers
Manipulating leather turn-ins and corner cuts
Paste-downs in place
Endpapers with textblock open
Back endpapers
New book splayed open to show covers and spine
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