It is not, perhaps, generally known, that Works Printed in London may be corrected by Authors residing at any distance, the Proof Sheets passing and re-passing through the Post Office at Single Postage, provided they are not cut, and that the direction is Written upon the Sheet. An Envelope would occasion Double Postage. It is usual also to add the words “Proof Sheet” in the corner.
ILLUSTRATIVE ENGRAVINGS
have already been slightly referred to. They are of three kinds: Engravings on Steel,[50-*] or Copper; Lithographic Drawings, or Prints from Stone; and Engravings on Wood. The first two are Printed independently of the Work; the latter in connection with it; either incorporated with the Text, or otherwise, as may be desired. Each of these modes may be employed with advantage, where Embellishment is intended, or information beyond that which description is adapted to convey. Coloured Engravings are also frequently employed in such cases.
Next to the Printing a Work, is the
CHOICE OF BINDING.
Until a very recent period, Binding was of two kinds only—that in Paper and that in Leather. The former, called Boarding, being used for Books when first Published, or when purchased for use in that state; the latter for Books when read, or intended to form a permanent part of a Library. Binding in Leather has been carried to very great perfection; and, according to the skill employed, is susceptible of the most varied and tasteful embellishment. The Titles of Books in Boards are affixed by printed Labels—those of such as are bound in Leather in Letters worked in Gold. These latter are produced by laying a leaf of Gold on the Leather, and stamping each Letter singly, a process requiring great skill and labour.
Recently a new mode has been introduced, called Cloth Binding. This is done by covering the Book with Cloth; and, by means of a strong pressure, Stamping it with some Ornamental Device Engraved for the purpose, and which is called Embossing. There is in this new method also another improvement—that of Lettering the back in Gold at one operation, which is thus effected:—instead of the mode employed in Leather Binding, of impressing each Letter singly on the Gold, the whole of the Lettering is cut on a solid piece of brass, and in this form impressed on the back at once. This is not only a great saving in time and labour, but admits also of much tasteful ornament in emblematical and other fanciful devices, which produce a very pleasing effect at a comparatively trifling cost.
This latter process, now very generally adopted, and of which the Binding of this little Work, presents a Specimen, is applicable to almost all works of Science, History, Biography, Travels, &c., and not only gives to them a very superior appearance when first Published, but also, from their close imitation of Leather Binding, renders them fit to be placed at once in the Library. This mode of Binding does not, however, possess much durability, as it differs only in the exterior from the former Boarding—still, until a Book is Bound in Leather, it certainly forms a very agreeable substitute.
Cloth Binding, general as its use has become, has not, however, been adopted for Novels, which are still usually published in Boards. For Annuals, and other Embellished Works, as well as many of those of a smaller size, this mode has been justly and generally preferred.