Fig. 114.
DESIGNING FOR BACKS
The decoration of the back of a book is difficult owing to the very small space usually available in the panels. The first consideration must be the lettering, and when that has been arranged, as described in Chapter XV, a second paper is got out for the pattern. The back panel should generally be treated in the same style and, if possible, with the same tools as the sides, if they are decorated. It will often be found far easier to design a full-gilt side than a satisfactory back.
A design may be made to fit one panel of the book and repeated on all those not required for lettering (see pages [332]-[34]), or it may be made to grow up from panel to panel (see [fig. 115]). In the case of sets of books in which the volumes vary very much in thickness, some pattern must be made that can be contracted and expanded without altering the general look of the back (see [fig. 115]).
DESIGNING FOR INSIDE OF BOARDS
The inside margins of the board permit of a little delicate decoration. At [fig. 116] are shown two ways of treating this part of the binding. The inside of the board is sometimes covered all over with leather, and tooled as elaborately, or more elaborately, than the outside. If there are vellum ends, they may be enriched with a little tooling.
Fig. 116.