Recipe

In short

Cut cover papers, binders board, and endpapers to size. Glue cover paper and endpaper to boards, dry for 24 hours under weight. Collate and fold interior paper into ten “signatures.” Punch holes in covers and signatures. Align holes. Sew book. Inspect, sign, and admire.

Detailed guide

I wrote and illustrated this guide in Fall 2008, and it goes into greater detail about the process of coptic binding. It is not exhaustive or even neatly penned, and it should be used as a mere supplement to a class or workshop in coptic binding. It covers how I make coptic bindings and a few common mistakes. I provide it with the expectation that it will retain my name, as I am the author, and will never be sold, altered, or redistributed without my permission. If you are a teacher and want to provide this guide to a class, feel free to do so. I'd like to hear about it, too!