Wednesday, January 19, 2011

Priscilla Spitler has donated three workshop sample bindings to the University of Iowa Libraries Bookbinding Model Collection. These models present Priscilla’s superior skills of artistry and craft and provide instructional models equivalent to other workshop sets by Bill Anthony and Robert Espinosa also in the collection.
The first model demonstrates a full leather, sewn board, fine edition binding on a Franz Kafka text published by Press Intermezzo, Austin, 1997. This unique sample binding features a reveal of the uncovered upper board with the unattached board leather that exemplifies expert hand paring. The second model presents another sewn board variation with acrylic paste paper and line decoration throughout. It is sewn on a concertina guard to enable additional collage. The third model presents a lapped component cover, case construction binding with goatskin spine.

Together this set of workshop samples provides physical inspiration and enables detailed observation by students. Here is the evidence of the work of a great, fine binder.