Late 18th Century French Binding Structure—November 6-10, 2017
Instructor: Jeff Peachey
Location: Georgia Archives in Morrow, Georgia
Application deadline: September 15, 2017
 
This workshop will focus on reconstructing a typical 18th century full leather 
French binding by comparing and contrasting three 18th century technical 
descriptions, examining extant bindings, and using historic tools.
 
In some respects, this structure is the end of 1,200 years of utilitarian 
leather binding; fifty years later, the cloth case begins to predominate. The 
making of the book is very organic and does not rely on numeric measuring. In 
many respects, this class is a hands-on explication of historic written texts.
 

Techniques covered include:

using a beating hammer to beat the text block before sewing
sewing on thin raised single cords
lacing into handmade pasteboards in a typical three hole pattern
beating the boards
trimming all three edges with a plough in-boards using trindles for the foreedge
coloring the edges with vermillion
applying vellum transverse spine liners
sewing endbands on rolled paper cores
paring and covering in full leather
marbling and burnishing the leather
applying simple blind tooled decoration


Course Description:
Reproductions of 18th century French tools, constructed from plates in 
Diderot’s Encylopedie (1751-1780) will be available for use. Participants will 
learn to use and maintain a plough and investigate the problems in translating 
written descriptions of bookbinding into the construction of a model. Extensive 
notations will be provided (in English) on Gauffecourt’s Traite de la Relieure 
des Livres (1763) and Dudin’s L’Art du Relieur-doreur de Livres (1772).
 
Basic bookbinding skills are a prerequisite, but this class can serve as an 
introduction to leather paring. Discussions will include treatment decision 
making for this particular structure in relation to institutions and private 
clients. This class is open to all levels of experience: pre-program students, 
technicians, and mid-career conservators who desire a full week at the bench. 
Ideally, a variety of participant experience levels will result in an 
invigorating exchange of information on binding techniques, institutional 
protocols, and treatment approaches. Students should bring basic bookbinding 
tools. A review of this workshop from 2016 by Constant Lem, Book Conservator at 
the National Library of the Netherlands: 
https://jeffpeachey.com/2017/02/07/review-of-18th-century-french-bookbinding-workshop/
 
To apply: Applicants must submit a resume and brief, one-paragraph statement of 
intent. Prospective students should outline educational hopes for this class 
and review their background in book conservation, bookbinding, or other crafts.
 
Fee: $700 and a $100 materials fee  Application deadline: September 15, 2017
 
Send applications to: Kim Norman:  [email protected]
Include any questions about the facilities, hotels, or transportation (Morrow 
is close to Atlanta). For questions about the class, contact:  
[email protected]
 
Instructor Bio: Jeffrey S. Peachey is an independent book conservator and 
toolmaker. For more than 25 years, he has specialized in the conservation of 
books and paper artifacts for institutions and individuals as the owner of a 
New York City-based studio. Jeff is a Professional Associate in the American 
Institute for Conservation and has taught bookbinding history workshops, 
internationally. He received fellowships at the Rockefeller Foundation Bellagio 
Center, Italy and Rochester Institute of Technology Cary Collection. Jeff is 
the inventor of the Peachey Board Slotting Machine, used in conservation labs 
around the world. His most recent publication is "Ausbund 1564: The History and 
Conservation of an Anabaptist Icon." in Pennsylvania Mennonite Heritage, 
October 2016. More information is available at: http://jeffpeachey.com
 
 
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