The remaining sections are then sewn, the thread being fastened through the catch-stitch of each preceding section.

Care must be taken not to draw the thread of the catch-stitches too tight, but to keep the back equally swelled. A number of books may be sewed one on another, till the press is three parts full, care being taken to finish off the sewing of each book, and not to catch-stitch them together. The proper number of books being sewed, the strings are cut from the rail, and unfastened at the bottom; the books are then separated and the bands cut apart, leaving about two inches on each side of the book. After sewing, the back of the book is glued; and when that is dry, the ends of the bands are opened and scraped. If the book is to be lined, which is customary with all half-extra and other superior work, it is now done, either with fine coloured or marble paper. If with marble paper, the sheet is folded with the plain side outwards, one half of it being pasted; it is laid between the fly-leaves, into the fold of which it is closely worked; the other half is then pasted, and the next fly-leaf rubbed down upon it, any superfluous edges being cut off with the shears.

This done, the back is next to be rounded, which is effected by laying the book on the press cheek, with the fore-edge towards the workman, who presses the fingers of his left hand upon the book, and at the same time draws it towards him, gently tapping the back up and down with a hammer, alternately changing the sides until the book is uniformly and effectually rounded. The back is then squeezed in the cutting press for a few minutes, which sets it, and the book is then ready for baching. This consists in forming a projection of the back on each side of the book, sufficient to cover the boards, and is done by placing cutting boards on each side of the book, within about a quarter of an inch of the back, or according to the size of the book, care being taken that the boards are parallel with the back, and at equal distances from it. The boards being tightly grasped by the left hand, are lowered into the cutting-press and screwed tight; the back is then hammered gently and uniformly all over, which causes it to spread over the boards so as to form the required ledge or projection.

If any roughness appears on the back, it is removed by scraping, and cleaned off with paste and paper shavings.

The boards for the cover, which are brown milled boards, having been cut to the required size with shears, or ploughed in the cutting press, two holes are pricked with a bodkin for each band, one of them directly opposite the band, the other about an inch beyond it.

The first, for 8vos, should be about half an inch from the edge of the board, the others about an inch, or for larger works still forwarded. The bands are then drawn through the outer side of the board, and passed through the other hole to the outside again, where the ends are spread and pasted. Each board is then opened, and laid separately on a smooth piece of iron, and the strings hammered flat The boards, which should not be put on too tightly, having been properly adjusted, and the back examined to see that it has not been deranged, and the defects, if any, remedied with the backing hammer, the next step is cutting the fore-edge. For this purpose the boards are thrown out of the grooves or ledges, and then brought to a perfect level with the back by knocking on the cheeks of the press; a cutting-board (of oak or beech, and rather wedge-shaped) is then placed on the left hand side of the book, and another, called a runner, on the right; the whole is then placed in the cutting-press, the runner being brought even with the right cheek of the press, and when properly adjusted, the press is screwed up, and the fore-edge ploughed.

After cutting the fore-edge, the hook is taken out, and the back rounded as before, when a corresponding groove will be formed in the front.

The head is next cut by knocking the boards straight up with it, keeping them in the ledge produced by backing; the cutting-board and runner are then applied as before, and the head ploughed. For cutting the opposite end, the boards are slipped below the head as much again as it is intended they shall project, which should be rather less than on the fore-edge. A small piece is then taken off the inner corner of each board; and the boards being replaced, there will be found a sufficient projection for both ends.

The cutting-press which has been referred to, consists of two strong wooden cheeks f g, connected by two slide bars h h, and two wooden screws i i. Upon the cheek f are two guides for the plough to work in.

The plough, which is the cutting instrument, consists of two sides, k l, connected by a screw m, and two slide bars, n n. A knife o is fastened to the under side of the cheek l, by a strong square bolt, which takes into a groove cut on the circumference of the screw m, and prevents it from moving laterally in the eheek. When the screw is turned, therefore, the two sides of the plough approach to or recede from each other.

Various attempts have at different times been made to improve the cutting-press and its appurtenances. Mr. Baxter, of Lewes, proposed to obviate most of the inconveniences attending the use of the common plough-knife. His improved knife consisted of a brass or gun-metal stock p, having a dovetailed groove on its under surface, in which slides a steel blade or cutter r, which is kept in any required position by a set screw on the upper part of the stock at s. The great advantage of this knife is, that when once properly adjusted, the blade may be changed and ground ad infinitum, without deranging the adjustment of the stock.

In the year 1806, the Society of Arts presented Mr. J. Hardie, of Glasgow, with a reward for an improved cutting-press for bookbinders, which is delineated in the cut at the top of page 224. t is the left hand cheek of the press, connected with a frame v v v, having two grooves on the inside, in which the cheek w slides backward and forward by means of the iron screw x, which is secured to it by a collar at y. z are the guides for the plough. The advantages claimed for this press are its simplicity, great power, and increased facility of use, as compared with other presses.