Our Story
עד מהרה הפך שגעון הכריכה, בתהליך ובסגנון המקורי של ימי הרנסנס – עם אותם הכלים ועם אותם החומרים – עד מהרה הפך הוא, מתחביב, למקצוע, שהיה לכל עולמו.
ספרינג התעקש להשתלם אצל מומחים ובעלי שם מהידועים בעולם, בארצות הברית ובצרפת ואף היה חבר ב Designer Bookbinders Of England ו-Guild Of Bookworkers Of New York ועוד.
לנכנס בשערי הסטודיו של הרב חיים, נדמה היה כאילו נוסע הוא לאחור במנהרת הזמן, הישר אל איטליה של המאה ה 16. הניירות האיטלקיים והצרפתיים, המרצעים ומכבשי היד העשויים עץ ופלדה יצוקה.
איש לא ידלג כאן, אף לא על אחד מעשרות השלבים המדוקדקים שבתהליך הכריכה. איש לא יחסוך בעור המשובח, או בריקועי הזהב –
כאן ב ‘ספרינג כריכת ספרים’ אוהבים את הספר –
והספר מחזיר אהבה…
How We Do It
Each book is unique
Hand-binding a leather book involves more than sixty separate steps. First, of course, is deciding with the client about the style and then going on to choose color, type of end paper and type-face as well as design for the front and back covers and the gold embossing.
After removing the original cover (in the case of a book that is not antique) the edges of the pages are colored if the client wishes.
Hand-binding a leather book involves more than sixty separate steps. First, of course, is deciding with the client about the style and then going on to choose color, type of end paper and type-face as well as design for the front and back covers and the gold embossing.
After removing the original cover (in the case of a book that is not antique) the edges of the pages are colored if the client wishes.
The next step is to measure the book and cut the end paper accordingly to fit it precisely to the edges of the book. Then the book is placed in the press. The original glue is removed and the spine is rounded by hammer to make “shoulders” which will enable it to be opened easily and for it to fit exactly in the space that has been formed. These presses also create a rounded and more aesthetic appearance on the bookshelf than the flat spines of modern books.
Afterwards the book is re-measured in order to size the binder’s cardboard which will serve as the basis for the new cover, on which will be placed the leather cover which has been chosen. In addition, we cut a piece of thinner and more flexible cardboard for the spine of the book.
Now that all the necessary supplies are on hand we cut the leather to size. We use only high-quality leather which has been carefully checked so that there are no flaws or scratches when the book is finally covered.
After additional measuring the spine is placed in the press under pressure so that we will be able to stamp the design more sharply and precisely.
While the spine is in the press we prepare bookmarks which will be included in the book.
After we have removed the spine from the press it is time for the initial stamping. We stamp the book title and in the event that the book is antique also the year it was published. The stamping (embossing) can be in gold or silver or, if desired even “blind” stamping which is done by heat and preserves the color of the leather even under the printing.
We are now ready to wrap the book cardboard in the leather to do the actual binding; we attach the small pieces at spaces in a manner that will permit the ”shoulders” to fit and we cut the edges of the leather at a forty-five degree angle before we use a knife to reduce the thickness of the leather substantially so that it can be bent properly to produce a pleasing appearance.
Now we have arrived at our favorite part of the work – the design. We are only limited by our imagination and the wishes of the client. We can do gold framing and a central design as shown in the video and can also add leather onlays of a different color. We can also do leather inlays after making a depression on the cover and can also stamp a name and/or a dedication on front or back cover.
After the cover has been completed the book is attached to the cover and we glue the edges of the book to its cover with pressure and we emphasize that this time in the in the press can take many, many hours.
At the end we remove the book from the press. clean and polish it with love and all that is left is to pack it carefully and dispatch it to the owner.
Every book is an artistic creation of its own and unique because it is individually made, and the work is done using materials and instruments similar to those used hundreds of years ago.
Why bind a book ?
Our books are hand-made from selected leathers and turned into pieces of art without losing their practical use as a prayer book, a Jewish source book or a family photograph album.
A book on your shelves, on the table, at the office or your local synagogue is transformed from a mass-produced volume to an artistic piece designed to last for decades without losing its beauty and functionality.
An ordinary set of Chumashim will become a family heirloom and a set of Talmud will show outward beauty that honors the traditions passed on to us through our history.
History is what we see in the bindery when we craft a leather-bound book in a process done only by hand – no automated machinery or production lines; we use presses similar to the ones that have been used in Italy of old using traditional hand-tooling methods.
For us there is nothing quite like the odor of leather and the glitter of gold to send us back to the time of the Renaissance which produced books we can still see in museums and private collections around the world.
Contact us and let us make your book- a work of art.