The Anatomy of a Book
A 'bindery-in-a-box' by Alexander McGuckin
For a detailed explanation of the contents click here.
I settled on a scale of 1:3.5. An ideal size that allowed the tools to be functional, but at the same time, present a considerable challenge to make.
 Miniatures! |  Oak box with two traysThe trays contain the miniature books, tools and sundries as well as a prepared skin and a booklet that describes the contents. |  Box with trays exposed |
|---|---|---|
 Close up of the trays |  Bottom Tray |  Top Tray |
 Booklet |  Goat skin |  Book with tools |
 Miniature clamshell boxes |  Naked BookRepresentative of the stage where a book is ready to be covered with leather. All hand-sewn, including the headbands. |  Naked no longerFull goatskin binding, with elaborate gold tooling using 22.5 carat English gold leaf and albumen claire. Gauffered Edges coloured and waxed, |
 Tools used to make a book |  Engraved finishing tools |  Front board detail |
 Gauffered edge |  Top edge detail |  Marbled endpapers |
 Detail of the rollsSingle fillet and roll |  Single Fillet |  Polishers |
 Hand finishing tools |  Pallets |  Pallets in hand |
 English paring knife |  Gold cushionwith gold knife and booklet of Gold leaf |  Booklet of gold leaf |
 There is gold leaf in the booklet |  Silk headbanding thread |  Awl |
 Practice spine |  Irish linen spool |  Bone folders made from bone |