A look at the traditional materials and craft in bookbinding

In the age of the electronic reader, Carol O’Callaghan looks at traditional materials and craft in bookbinding.

A friend recently gave me a beautiful hand-bound notebook of creamy sheets of paper encased in a tactile red linen cover, with a contrasting blue bookmark.

It’s far too lovely for scribbling shopping lists and notes to self, and more suited to a topic with lasting value to honour the time, effort and lovely materials used in its making — and the thoughtfulness of the gift.