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== Summary == | == Summary == | ||
The block is the large mass of pages that form the center of the codex. These are considered distinct from the endpapers and the cover and typically contain the bulk of the book's contents. Most books are made from a collection of [[peciae]], or 8/16/32-page bundles of paper that are put together to form the book itself. These are formed from a series of folios, which are whole sheets of paper folded in half. These folios are often nested into groups of three and then stacked on top of one another to form the book block. This is why some of the pages near the back of some books are blank, because they need to reach the quota in order to be printed.<ref name=":0">Robinson, Solveig. "The Book In Society", ''Broadview Press'', 2014, accessed November 6, 2025.</ref> | [[File:Book block.webp|thumb|Hardcover book with book block.<ref>Morsa, Mallory. "What is Involved in Hardcover Book Binding?" ''Binding101'', Sept. 19, 2018, <nowiki>https://www.binding101.com/blog/post/binding/what-is-involved-in-hardcover-book-binding?srsltid=AfmBOoq_8xoBk1oEpW4o3CcRO5-t1OiVnJ2i4tMQKmu2kvcrrZ6Q1F7S</nowiki></ref>]] | ||
The block is the large mass of pages that form the center of the codex. These are considered distinct from the endpapers and the cover and typically contain the bulk of the book's contents. Most books are made from a collection of [[peciae]], or 8/16/32-page bundles of paper that are put together to form the book itself. These are formed from a series of folios, which are whole sheets of paper folded in half. These folios are often nested into groups of three (referred to as signatures) and then stacked on top of one another to form the book block. This is why some of the pages near the back of some books are blank, because they need to reach the quota in order to be printed.<ref name=":0">Robinson, Solveig. "The Book In Society", ''Broadview Press'', 2014, accessed November 6, 2025.</ref> | |||
== History == | == History == | ||
The invention of the book block coincided with the emergence of the codex. Early Christians used these more compact and referential texts for religious pamphlets and as source material for their missionaries and services. Codexes were far more practical, space-efficient, and compact than scrolls or tablets.<ref name=":0" /> | The invention of the book block coincided with the emergence of the codex. Early Christians used these more compact and referential texts for religious pamphlets and as source material for their missionaries and services. Codexes were far more practical, space-efficient, and compact than scrolls or tablets.<ref name=":0" /> Using the codex format, images and text could be printed on both sides, which meant less paper had to be used for each book, which made production cheaper. When combined with the invention of the Gutenberg Press, production of Codexes became even more efficient.<ref name=":0" /> And their design, of course, revolves around the book block. | ||
== Design and Production == | |||
[[File:Book binding.webp|thumb|Materials need for book binding.<ref>Schulze, Syl. "Hard Cover Books Pt. 1: Making the Book Block", ''The Sandy River Review'', Oct. 29, 2018, <nowiki>https://sandyriverreview.com/2018/10/29/hard-cover-books-pt-1-making-the-book-block/</nowiki></ref>]] | |||
The book block can be sewn by hand or by machine. The hand-sewing process is long but not as complicated as some might think. It involves stacking the signatures atop one another, scoring the backs, and then threading a needle through each layer, working down. Pictured on the right are the materials needed to bind a book block yourself. The image was taken from a good tutorial on book binding with lots of pictures and detailed descriptions. | |||
While sewing is a more traditional book binding technique, it is also time consuming. Gluing is a more popular book binding technique, especially in the industrial sphere. To do this, glue is smeared onto the backs of the stacked signatures, and the spine is placed over top of it, binding all of the papers to the inside of the spine.<ref name=":1">O Miolo Do Livro. "The Book Block", 0. Itemzero, ''Behance'', <nowiki>https://www.behance.net/gallery/164868731/The-Book-Block-Industrial-Bookbinding-Techniques?locale=en_US</nowiki></ref> Some companies also use heat-activated glue in which the spine is slotted into a thermal binding machine and then allowed to cool so all of the pages along the spine are securely glued together.<ref>"A Guide to Paper Binding & The Types of Binding Machines", ''Whitaker Brothers'', <nowiki>https://www.whitakerbrothers.com/blogs/news/guide-to-paper-binding?srsltid=AfmBOorTtrbGSWky7Rszvc9WTHjqMlsBSustyeME-Fd_7l7F7poHtoXD</nowiki></ref> Depending on the size of the book or the company's preferences, some book blocks use both sewing and gluing techniques for added security. | |||
In terms of printing, collections of pages are printed out in huge sheets, which are then folded to form the signatures. The excess margin space is typically sliced away using a machine before the pages are bound/glued together.<ref name=":1" /><references /> | |||
[[Category:Glossary]] | |||
[[Category:Parts of a Book]] | |||
Latest revision as of 15:23, 25 November 2025
Summary
The block is the large mass of pages that form the center of the codex. These are considered distinct from the endpapers and the cover and typically contain the bulk of the book's contents. Most books are made from a collection of peciae, or 8/16/32-page bundles of paper that are put together to form the book itself. These are formed from a series of folios, which are whole sheets of paper folded in half. These folios are often nested into groups of three (referred to as signatures) and then stacked on top of one another to form the book block. This is why some of the pages near the back of some books are blank, because they need to reach the quota in order to be printed.[2]
History
The invention of the book block coincided with the emergence of the codex. Early Christians used these more compact and referential texts for religious pamphlets and as source material for their missionaries and services. Codexes were far more practical, space-efficient, and compact than scrolls or tablets.[2] Using the codex format, images and text could be printed on both sides, which meant less paper had to be used for each book, which made production cheaper. When combined with the invention of the Gutenberg Press, production of Codexes became even more efficient.[2] And their design, of course, revolves around the book block.
Design and Production
The book block can be sewn by hand or by machine. The hand-sewing process is long but not as complicated as some might think. It involves stacking the signatures atop one another, scoring the backs, and then threading a needle through each layer, working down. Pictured on the right are the materials needed to bind a book block yourself. The image was taken from a good tutorial on book binding with lots of pictures and detailed descriptions.
While sewing is a more traditional book binding technique, it is also time consuming. Gluing is a more popular book binding technique, especially in the industrial sphere. To do this, glue is smeared onto the backs of the stacked signatures, and the spine is placed over top of it, binding all of the papers to the inside of the spine.[4] Some companies also use heat-activated glue in which the spine is slotted into a thermal binding machine and then allowed to cool so all of the pages along the spine are securely glued together.[5] Depending on the size of the book or the company's preferences, some book blocks use both sewing and gluing techniques for added security.
In terms of printing, collections of pages are printed out in huge sheets, which are then folded to form the signatures. The excess margin space is typically sliced away using a machine before the pages are bound/glued together.[4]
- ↑ Morsa, Mallory. "What is Involved in Hardcover Book Binding?" Binding101, Sept. 19, 2018, https://www.binding101.com/blog/post/binding/what-is-involved-in-hardcover-book-binding?srsltid=AfmBOoq_8xoBk1oEpW4o3CcRO5-t1OiVnJ2i4tMQKmu2kvcrrZ6Q1F7S
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Robinson, Solveig. "The Book In Society", Broadview Press, 2014, accessed November 6, 2025.
- ↑ Schulze, Syl. "Hard Cover Books Pt. 1: Making the Book Block", The Sandy River Review, Oct. 29, 2018, https://sandyriverreview.com/2018/10/29/hard-cover-books-pt-1-making-the-book-block/
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 O Miolo Do Livro. "The Book Block", 0. Itemzero, Behance, https://www.behance.net/gallery/164868731/The-Book-Block-Industrial-Bookbinding-Techniques?locale=en_US
- ↑ "A Guide to Paper Binding & The Types of Binding Machines", Whitaker Brothers, https://www.whitakerbrothers.com/blogs/news/guide-to-paper-binding?srsltid=AfmBOorTtrbGSWky7Rszvc9WTHjqMlsBSustyeME-Fd_7l7F7poHtoXD
