Discover the stages involved in creating a hand-printed and hand-bound book. This is an example of octavo size, meaning it’s made up of pages that were printed eight to a sheet of paper.

Video timeline: Process at the printers: Arranging metal letters: 00:09​ Preparing type: 00:25​ Applying ink to the type: 00:32​ Pressing paper onto the inked type: 00:40​ Process at the binders: Sheets folded and cut: 01:07​ Folds hammered: 01:24​ Sheets sewn onto bands: 01:28​ Rounding the spine: 01:43​ Attaching cover boards: 01:56​ Clamping the book and trimming pages: 02:20​ Endbands sewn: 02:29​ Leather cover stuck on: 02:41​ Decoration added with hot metal tools: 03:11