Gilding on a colored, especially a red edge is very effective. These gilt-edges with an underlying red-edge are of English origin and are used generally for Bibles and prayer books. The fore edge of such books is colored in an oblique position of the edge, and they therefore have not a golden, but a red effect, when opened.
The production of such edges demands a certain experience, if the coloring of the fore-edge shall have a correct effect, and the leaves of the book are to be as little as possible impregnated by the color.
This color must be mixed like any other edge colors with gum-arabic, starch paste or the white of an egg.
All etching substances, such as spirits of ammonia, must be avoided as they often cause the color to soak too deeply into the paper.
In manipulating the fore edge, open the book slightly, fasten the edge in this oblique position and then lightly apply the color.
When this has thoroughly dried, open the edge towards the other side and continue with the same procedure.
The different leaves are thus not only colored at the edges proper, but the color has also been slightly imparted to the upper and lower sides of the leaves at the same time, and for this reason the edge of the book, after it is gilded, appears reddish when the book is opened out.
The upper and lower edges must be treated as all other colored edges.
In producing the gilt-edge in the way above mentioned, rubbing off with paste and grounding with bole must of course not be employed.
The production of edges with metal leaf or aluminium, is under the same rules as for gilt edges.