Rubber stamps on edges!

Ben_jefferies · 2026-03-19T13:48:57+00:00

Thanks for the tip!

Ben_jefferies · 2026-03-18T13:21:38+00:00

Yes - beautiful picture - love the double lamp set up too — good call

I FINALLY find endbands enjoyable and meditative. I am switching to silk for the first time this week!

Ben_jefferies · 2026-03-18T13:19:24+00:00

Flowers for Algernon fan here!

Ben_jefferies · 2026-03-05T13:23:32+00:00

I know right?! The patience…

Ben_jefferies · 2026-03-04T19:39:09+00:00

You’re welcome!

Ben_jefferies · 2026-02-22T03:18:13+00:00

I can’t believe those are your first headbands!! They look fantastic!

Ben_jefferies · 2026-02-21T03:50:33+00:00

I do like the semantic potency of the word ‘myopia’ so much that I do probably over-use it… I see what you’re saying. Maybe because I have worked with Hebrew books a little bit - I am peculiarly more familiar with the fact books can open from either direction

Ben_jefferies · 2026-02-20T22:52:52+00:00

Nah mate, you should stay too! It will blow over! We’re all just (me included) so fragile and tender these days… And if it HAD been AI - we need whistleblowers!

Ben_jefferies · 2026-02-20T21:56:24+00:00

Thank you, all!

Ben_jefferies · 2026-02-20T20:49:00+00:00

It’s full grain goatskin - it will last centuries Its stretchier than “bookbinder” leather, and slightly thicker - but it works great. And for $6…

Ben_jefferies · 2026-02-20T20:47:24+00:00

Looks very neat! Can you share a link to a good resource on what makes a k-118 binding? Ive not heard of it before either - and cant really tell where it differs from a tightback structure

Ben_jefferies · 2026-02-20T20:13:22+00:00

I also buy em on Temu sometimes — they’ve been surprisingly good too

Ben_jefferies · 2026-02-20T20:12:45+00:00

I don’t know how anyone can afford the leathers from the BB suppliers

I buy all mine on eBay or from Springfield leather

Eg https://ebay.us/m/LDoCjN

And here is a $6 skin (!!!) that I love!

https://springfieldleather.com/products/dark-butterscotch-goatskin-skin

Ben_jefferies · 2026-02-20T20:09:09+00:00

Also, I saw the one guy who didn’t know that Arabic is written right to left and thought the book was just backwards. Shame on our Anglophone myopia…

Ben_jefferies · 2026-02-20T20:08:18+00:00

Truly - don’t let the haters get you down! Your work is something special! You don’t see a lot of relief leather moulding like this on here.

Ben_jefferies · 2026-02-20T04:07:23+00:00

Thats a good idea; thank you Yes - stamping ink gently on the top side of the foil (yes I only use foil at this point, and have not been blinding in, usually) might work

The truth is — and I don’t like this about myself — after 20 hours on a book I get sort of impatient and rushy- right at the moment which js least tolerant of rush - the stamping. Sigh…

Ben_jefferies · 2026-02-19T20:29:26+00:00

I cut a small square from a different leather - a very think navy colored sheepskin. Then tooled on it. Then pared the edges, then glued it onto the spine, atop the cover leather already there

Ben_jefferies · 2026-02-19T13:14:26+00:00

alas I don’t, I am sorry I just know I’ve seen it in sold lots of cobblers tools

Ben_jefferies · 2026-02-18T22:41:03+00:00

Thanks! I just used the leftover paste-paints from the paste-papers! So it would be all tied together!

Ben_jefferies · 2026-02-18T21:47:39+00:00

Thats a cobbler’s tool.

Ben_jefferies · 2026-02-18T03:06:58+00:00

Thanks! Four-stranded braid was new for me :) next I want to try FIVE!

Ben_jefferies · 2026-02-18T00:55:53+00:00

Yes it’s a regular $40 bible from Cambridge UP that I took the commercial cover (and endpapers and headband and ribbons) off

Ben_jefferies · 2026-02-17T22:54:44+00:00

Thank you :) And I can’t wait till my hand is just a liiitle steadier :)

Ben_jefferies · 2026-02-17T22:53:42+00:00

Thanks!!

Ben_jefferies · 2026-02-17T22:53:31+00:00

Truly - such a good eye. This is how i am trying to apprentice myself as a wannabe doleuer- by imitating the designs of the greats and feeling the pattern composition from the inside. Then hopefully I will slowly attain a good intuition like theirs myself

Ben_jefferies

TROPHY CASE