A piece of binding vellum is cut for the cover and marked with a folder on the underside, as shown in [Fig. 47]. The two lines marked down the centre represent the thickness of the sections. The two spaces on either side, exclusive of margins, should be slightly larger than the size of the sides of the book. The wide margin that extends all the way round may be approximately 1½ in., while the additional narrow margin on two sides may be ¼ in. in width. The corners should be cut along the dotted lines with a sharp knife.
Vellum Cover
Fig. 47.
The cover is then folded up in the manner shown in [Fig. 48]. It is as well to stick the edges down with a little stiff quick-drying paste. The two narrow margins should be marked with the folder and folded over to form two flaps on the fore-edge of the book. All these folds should be made very carefully so as to ensure them being quite even. Some people find it best to make a cover of stiff paper first, and, when this fits correctly, they make the vellum cover exactly the same size. It is possible by this method to avoid spoiling the vellum through cutting it so that it does not fit.
Cover ready for binding the MS.
Fig. 48.
The next thing to do is to mark the places on the inside of the cover for the vellum strips to be laced through. These should be made about ¾ in. from the creases of the back. Another mark should be made about 3/8 in. away from the first mark. If the book is now placed in the cover it will be quite an easy matter to mark exactly where the vellum strips intersect these lines, and slits may be cut with a sharp knife in the cover in the places marked with dotted lines in [Fig. 48].
The vellum strips may now be laced through these slits and the ends stuck down with strong paste. Some pieces of good silk ribbon may be attached to the top and bottom strips and laced through the cover, leaving the ends to tie, or the book may be left without these.