The Lord of the Rings

Tags

Design binding, Βιβλιοδεσία, δερματόδετη βιβλιοδεσία, καλλιτεχνική βιβλιοδεσία, J.R.R. Tolkien, leather binding, Lord of the Rings, Lotr, Middle Earth, Tolkien

Ρresenting Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings.
This is my last and biggest collaboration with Mia Heath (the book minder) from the summer of 2022.
An epic bookbinding project for one of the most wonderful stories ever written.

Getting Lost in Middle Earth

I read Lord of the Rings back in early high school, right after the Hobbit. I’ve described the latter’s impact on me in the corresponding post, so I’ll just quickly say that LOTR’s beauty, scale and depth completely absorbed me.

I was exceptionally lucky because by the time I finished the books the films started coming out. Nothing like them had come before and -I dare say- ever since. Those who haven’t had the chance to watch them in cinema for the first time have no idea what kind of experience they’ve missed.

Miss K. originally commissioned me to bind the trilogy as a unique gift to her husband on whom Tolkien’s works have also had a significant impact. The Hobbit was actually commissioned after the trilogy, but since it would be finished first her devious plan was to use it as a diversion so that he would be completely unsuspecting there was more to come…!

Binding the Trilogy

Designing LOTR

Lord of the Rings is an epic saga. It deals with a lot of complex themes regarding war and its impact on those caught in it, the value of life, inner struggle, pain and enduring it, forgiveness, friendship, good vs evil, all in a way that is far more intricate and meaningful than it is usually given credit for. With these in mind I felt the bindings should be respectful, solemn in a way. They should look and be well-made, beautiful, but not in a way that draws the attention on them and away from the story. This led to an aesthetic that is in contrast with the pictorial and whimsical decoration of our binding for the Hobbit, thus reflecting the difference between those two stories.

The design is Mia’s work, who came up with it and also did the drawing I later used in tooling the decorations. The idea behind it was to show important locations found in each book, drawn using only a single, uninterrupted line (with the exception of few decorative details), an allusion to the fellowship’s journey.

Some of the locations were pretty straightforward, while others proved quite challenging, with Hobbiton being the most difficult. The final designs are elegant and imposing, while their minimalism compliments the wonderful texture of the leather.

“In the fires of Mount Doom…” – Decorating the Edges

Although the Hobbit was finished first as a binding its edge painting was actually meant as a practice for the more challenging one intended for LOTR. The idea was that it should fool the eye just enough so as to be perceived as a continuation of the marbled papers -and vice versa- upon a hasty glance.

By the time we got to do the edge paintings for LOTR we had the process down fairly well. I would prepare the book blocks by sanding them to a very smooth finish and then Mia would do the painting.
She did many tests on books I keep around for this purpose and after a while managed to get the result as close to the marbled papers as possible, producing these impressive edges.

It couldn’t have been achieved without the help of Glenn Malkin who has made an excellent video illustrating this technique and also kindly answered some extra questions we had. Make sure to check his channel as he has quite a few instructional videos that I’m sure binders of any level will find interesting.

Maps, Titles and Rings

Maps
The maps in the original edition were printed as the endpapers which prohibits their re-use, so new ones had to be made. As in the Hobbit’s case, I had them printed on an expensive cotton paper that can be found only in one place in Athens, which happens to be very far away from the bindery. But it was worth the trouble as I wanted the maps to feel as real as possible, to have texture and be exciting to look at.

Round Titles – Again!
If you’ve been following my work then you’ll know by now my fondness for round titles, which I consider one of my trademarks. As such it was a no brainer to do round titles for LOTR, One Ring and all…

This however, as is the case with many other elements, posed a challenge. I’ll get a bit technical but bear with me as you might appreciate how even the smallest detail of a binding may often require problem solving.

The difference in length between the titles (with the 1st and 3rd book having rather long ones in contrast to the 2nd) created an issue concerning the lay out. The circle of the titles should be the same for all 3 books and at the same time it should look right on the thinnest spine, that of the second volume. After quite a bit of experimentation, which involved laying the longer title over many different sized circles, I found the optimum radius.

This then led to another issue: type size. I either had to use very small letters, so that the titles of the 1^st and 3^rd volume would fit within the circle but would also make the title for the 2^nd volume appear tiny and ridiculously sparse, or use a “normal” size, with the second volume’s title looking ok and the other two unable to fit.

To solve this I condensed the 1^st and 3^rd volume’s title as much as I could, also using dots instead of gaps between words to save even more space. It wasn’t enough though, so I turned to a trick I’ve seen in old bindings, which is to use much smaller type for certain letters, snugged in the gaps left between or under the larger type.

More Rings…
Doing handsewn endbands is always on the table, as they’re classy, neat and look beautiful, but I find myself opting less and less for them in recent years. In this case they would create too much extra visual noise and would hardly be noticed between the colorful edges and marbled papers.

Instead, I made these from a lustrous black leather. The 9 rings are either a reference to the members of the fellowship or represent the rings given to the kings of men, who above all else desire power – as everyone knows…

Mount Doom and the One Ring – A Bookcase to rule them All

The bookcase deserves its own section in this post. It’s arguably the most complex bookbinding structure I’ve ever attempted and one that was a true nightmare to make.

I really wanted to push the envelope and create a unique display for the LOTR bindings. A case that wouldn’t simply be a nice looking protective shell but something that could stand out on its own. Something impressive and unique, that would intrigue the viewer’s eye and invite exploration through its texture and vivid colors.

Several different ideas and structures were discussed for a long time, going back and forth between simpler and more intricate ones. At some point the project was overdue and Christmas (oh, did I mention it was intended as a Christmas gift?) was growing ever nearer so by the end I suggested we settle for a much simpler structure from the options discussed up to that point.

But it bugged me. It didn’t feel bold enough, befitting the scale of LOTR or its importance in my heart. I pitched the idea for a case representing the One Ring being forged at the fires of Mount Doom, without having much to share with Miss K. apart from a vague but full of excitement description. To my delight she was intrigued and trusted me to move forward.

Here’s a comparison to give you just a hint of how complex this was… A regular book slipcase has 5 parts. A clamshell, which is quite more complex as a structure and requires precision down to half a milimeter to all its pieces, is comprised of 9 parts. Well, my case for LOTR has … 38!

Trying to plan, cut, cover and join all of these irregular pieces caused me headaches for days on end – not even joking. By the end I was exhausted but, much like Frodo, I had successfully taken the Ring to Mount Doom…

The marvelous marbled papers representing the lava-filled chasms of Mount Doom are, once more, made by the perfection-seeking Daniela from Papiers Prina.

Photoshoot and editing was done by Maria Siorba. She really managed to captivate and showcase the beauty, texture and intricate details of this project.

Last but not least I would like to make an honorable mention to the Greek Tolkien Society, the Prancing Pony, which were most helpful in providing me with lots of information for the originally planned designs. They didn’t make the final cut but their help and support is much appreciated.

For those interested the LOTR bindings were tooled using my:
– Stylus Set
– Versatile Typeholder
– Dot Set

The Hobbit

Tags

artistic bookbinding, Bilbo, Bilbo Baggins, Design binding, encuadernacion artesanal, fine binding, Handmade binding, Βιβλιοδεσία, δερματόδετη βιβλιοδεσία, καλλιτεχνική βιβλιοδεσία, J.R.R. Tolkien, Leatherbound book, Reliure D'Art, The Hobbit, Tolkien

Binding J.R.R Tolkien’s The Hobbit

I present you one of the most beautiful books ever made in my bindery, created in collaboration with Mia Heath (The Book Minder).

Reading the Hobbit

Before talking about how the The Hobbit was bound, I believe it’s important to share with you why this book is very important and deeply personal to me…

When I was 11 years old an uncle and aunt came to visit. Not knowing what to bring as a gift they had visited a bookshop and asked the bookseller to recommend something for a child of said age. “You know… I have just the thing, he’ll love it!” said he – and gave them the Hobbit.
A lifetime later I still feel grateful to that person…

Upon reading the Hobbit something clicked in me. What was a vague fondness for a number of things began to acquire form, to move in a certain direction. It acted as a spark for my imagination and creativity.
I honestly don’t know if I’d be the same person had I not read Tolkien’s books, or if I did so many years later. That’s how great an impact his work had on me.

Designing The Hobbit

I had been waiting for ages for someone to commission a very special leather binding of the Hobbit and Miss K. became that person.
She intended it as a gift for her husband on whom, like me, Tolkien’s works have had a significant impact, but also for her newborn girl. She wanted “to provide him with something special to share between them”. Isn’t that a deeply sweet thought? Truly, I cannot think of a better reason behind a gift…

With that mind, and knowing how this book has shaped me, I wanted to go the extra mile and create something really special, in the hopes that it will become one of her daughter’s most cherished books and, perhaps, a defining one as well.

The binding was to revolve around 3 elements: the round door, the autumn colors and the leaves carried by the wind, which has become a recurring theme -not always with leaves- across some of my bindings.

A lot of it is also structured around vegetation, whether that is the leaves, or the edge coloring with its many shades of green, or the marbled papers in “thistle” pattern. Hobbits, as every decent and well-informed person knows, love things that grow. They are fond of gardening and enjoy long walks in the countryside and Bilbo Baggins, the story’s protagonist, is no exception. Nature however is not without its perilous side and Bilbo will find himself in dark spider-infested forests during his journey too.

Mia, who is also a big Tolkien fan, came up with the beautiful design based on the concepts described earlier, and patiently painted it, a process that involved many days of work from initial sketches to finished decoration.

Binding The Hobbit

Painting and Edge Coloring

Although the decoration could be painted directly on the leather it would eventually wear off through use and friction. I created a tool set with leaves and acorns in different sizes, even made a custom tool just for the dragon’s eye, and then tooled the entire design. This way even the smallest painted detail sits well protected in an impression below the binding’s surface.

The edge coloring proved to be quite a challenge, as it was a new skill for the both of us. We did a great many tests until we managed to get it right: I would prepare the edges by sanding them to a very smooth finish and then Mia would do the painting. For quite a while the results had a number of flaws, such as spots flaking off, colors not showing properly or pages stuck together. After dozens of tests on books I keep around for this purpose we were able to nail it.
The result is an edge with patches in various shades of green that is looking at a forest canopy – the photos really don’t do it justice.

It couldn’t have been achieved without the help of Glenn Malkin who has made an excellent video illustrating this technique and also kindly answered some extra questions we had. Make sure to check his channel as he has some quite a few instructional videos I’m sure binders of any level will find interesting.

Tactility of the Binding

One of the things I try to take into consideration, when the project allows for it, is the tactility of a binding. Bindings are 3d objects we hold in our hands but often a lot of thought goes into how they look instead and not in how they “feel”.

This is a book that will be read and thus handled countless times, as opposed to a decorative piece that will be taken from it’s shelf/case 2-3 times in a lifetime, so I wanted it to feel special and have a tactile quality to it.

With that in mind I chose a leather with rather rough grain from Harmatan, even though they offer it in fine grain as well. Apart from beautiful to the touch it also underlines that this is a tale of old that speaks of wizards and dragons and magic rings. Another such element are the thick boards, smoothly rounded at the edges, which create the impressions of a hefty volume, as you’d expect from one that tells of such tales and is expected to be a heirloom piece, lasting many lifetimes. Last but not least, my overspending for weird papers has proven useful, as proven by the heavily textured paper used for the door that looks remarkably like wood, especially once colored and lacquered.

The Bag End’s Door

The door (painted by Olga Kotsirea) and is in many ways the centerpiece of the binding. Apart from being iconic, it represents Bilbo’s safe and cozy home, in stark contrast with all the unpleasantries he faces during his journey.

To enhance its display I created a recess on the front cover for the door to sit in, creating the illusion of depth.
Another additional detail that hardcore fans might have already observed are the runes, inscribed by Gandalf: instead of the most commonly depicted single rune we chose to go for the ones seen in a drawing by Tolkien himself: B, D and R, which stand for Burglar, Danger and Reward (in the form of a diamond).

The Hobbit’s Maps

A lot of attention has gone into every little detail of this binding, and one such important detail is the maps.
They were printed as the endpapers of the original edition I used for this binding which prohibited their re-use for various reasons and so I had to make new ones. I went in expecting it to be fairly simple to find ultra hi-resolution of Thror’s and Wilderland maps, especially given how easy it was when I was making the Silmarillion some years ago. Alas it was rather difficult and then had to spent a fair amount of time editing them, to make them clearer and sharper and for the colors to pop more, sometimes going over tiny letters one by one. For what’s more they are printed on an expensive cotton paper that can be found only in one place in Athens, which happens to be very far away from the bindery. But it was worth the trouble as I wanted the maps to feel as real as possible, to have texture and be exciting to look at.

The binding comes in a custom handmade slipcase that will keep it well protected. I really like how the exposed spine teases the viewer who is then offered a treat when pulling the binding and revealing the covers. As an additional touch, the slipcase’s spine features a snake-skin patterned leather in autumn red.

The lovely marbled papers used for the binding and the slipcase were custom made for this project by Papiers Prina. I wanted a paper that would resemble thick vegetation with copper/autumn accents to fit in with the rest of the binding, and Daniela was -once more- able to deliver!

Photos of the binding were taken by Maria Siorba, with whom I’ve happily collaborated on numerous occasions.

Bookbinding Tools used in binding The Hobbit

If you’re a bookbinder, novice or professional, you might be interested to know I’ve used my Stylus Set, Dot Set and Versatile Typeholder for the decoration of this binding, all of which you can acquire by sending me a message at koutsipetsidis@gmail.com or by visiting my Etsy shop.
You can also see all of my available tools here.

Book recommendations and reviews

Tags

Blacksad, book recommendations, book reviews, Folio Society, Ian Stewart, J.R.R. Tolkien, Juanjo Guarnido, Louis Pergaud, Magical numbers in nature, Sci fi, Scifi anthology, Shape of a snowflake, The Hobbit, Tolkien, War of the buttons

As a sign off for the rest of summer I’ve thought to share with you all a few of my favorite books. Hopefully you’ll find your next favorite read among them too…

FOLIO SOCIETY’S SCIENCE FICTION ANTHOLOGY

What’s it about?
An excellently selected and presented anthology of sci-fi stories, ranging from Philip K. Dick to … Voltaire, from black humor to social commentary to existential angst and horror!

Why should I read it?.
Before answering that let’s address why you should own it, even if you never read it!
Folio Society and its associates have done an amazing job on the book’s design and presentation, both externally and internally. It’s an absolute gem to have on your shelf.

Ok, ok… But why should I read it?
Brian W. Aldiss did an excellent selection of stories, taking care to present us with a great variety in content and writing styles. I’d say, accepting the possibility of committing hubris here, the Folio anthology is the equivalent of sci-fi in a bottle; If someone asked me “what is sci-fi?” I’d hand them this book.

If you like sci-fi, you’ll love it. And if you think sci-fi isn’t for you then this book will mount a very convincing argument to the contrary.

Sci-fi is surprising. It spins what is familiar to us into something new and exciting. It often challenges us in figuring out answers in questions we didn’t even know existed. It invites us to explore what is beyond our reach or understanding.

And although sci-fi often revolves around the impossible, the unfathomable, the transcending, in the end it uses those things as a prism to allow us to peer deeper in ourselves.

WAR OF THE BUTTONS by LOUIS PERGAUD

What’s it about?
This is the story of a savage war raging between the school boys from two villages in the early 1900s.
Bold, funny, heroic and full of innocence, War of the Buttons is a romantic portrait of the bliss and rebellious spirit of childhood.

Why should I read it?
If the writer’s own words (read below) didn’t convince you then I don’t know what will!
Although for most of us (if not all) our early years do not bear any semblance with those of Pergaud’s heroes, I believe he has managed to capture something of the very essence of childhood, which transcends the era and country in which the story takes place. We can all find a nostalgic part of ourselves in his book – hopefully the part prone to mischief…!

Note: to really enjoy this book it’s important to find a properly translated edition (unless you’re french or can read french, in which case you should definitely read it in its original language!).
By “proper” I mean one that is not afraid to accurately portray the audacity and innocent savagery of a band of pre-teen boys bent on the war path.

In the words of the author Louis Pergaud:

[…]
I did not shy away from rude expressions, provided they are in good taste, or the rude gesture, provided it is epic.
I wanted to recapture a moment of my childhood, which we lived as wildlings full of excitement and vigor, in all its sincerity and heroism and free of the hypocrisies of family and school.
[…]

For my Greek readers:
Συστήνω την μετάφραση του Φώντα Κονδύλη (-και μόνο!) από τις εκδόσεις Πατάκη. Η άψογη απόδοση του Κονδύλη αιχμαλωτίζει πλήρως το θρασύ και σπινθηροβόλο πνεύμα της ιστορίας!

WHAT SHAPE IS A SNOWFLAKE, MAGICAL NUMBERS IN NATURE by IAN STEWART

What’s it about?
I’ve decided to quote the book’s summary in this case:

” The stripes of a zebra…the complexities of a spider’s web…the waves of the ocean…and the shape of a snowflake. These and other natural patterns have been recognized by scientists for centuries. What do they have in common?
[…]
Beautifully illustrated, What Shape is a Snowflake? is an illuminating and engaging vision of how the apparently cold laws of mathematics find organic expression in the beauty of nature.”

Why should I read it?
You’ve probably heard of or read many books on pop science, so “why is this one any different?” I hear you wonder.

Allow me to answer by sharing the impact this book had on me.
Reading this back in my high school days changed my perception of science, and in many ways the world in general, by accomplishing what all my years in school and endless joyless hours of physics, chemistry, algebra and geometry failed to do: to show me how all these seemingly arbitrary numbers and equations, strange terms, complex theories and concepts are connected with the real world, in ways that are empirical, observable and tangible. How they define everything we see -and even what we don’t see- around us, from the tiniest quantums of existence up to the incomprehensible vastness of the universe.

It reads like a great documentary, in that it starts off from basic ideas and step by step, through interesting images and Ian’s captivating writing, builds upon them to eventually reach complex concepts.
It does get a bit technical here and there but the writer does a great job of keeping things simple and keeping the reader engaged.

THE HOBBIT by J.R.R. TOLKIEN

What’s it about?
It’s the story of Bilbo Baggins, a Hobbit happily leading a completely ordinary and uneventful life until a wizard shows up at his door to invite him to a perilous quest that involves dwarves, an ancient treasure and a terrifying dragon.

Why should I read it?
Treading lightly on its hairy toes Tolkien’s Hobbit is a fantasy novel like no other. It’s no wonder it has sparked the imagination of countless people, many of which went on to create their own works of art inspired by it. Light hearted, immersive, exciting and surprising it will be worth every second of your time – as long as you are willing to let yourself wander in the strange and wonderful Middle Earth.

Though usually considered literature for ealry adolescence, and indeed that’s the ideal age of introducing someone to Tolkien, the Hobbit is a book that can be enjoyed from ages of 11 to 111, as its fans around the world will tell you.

A few notes:
When I was 11-12 years old an uncle and aunt came to visit. Not knowing what to bring as a gift they went to a bookshop and asked the bookseller to recommend something for a child of said age. “You know… I have just the thing, he’ll love it!” said he – and gave them the Hobbit…
Twenty years later I still feel grateful to that person.

Upon reading the Hobbit something “clicked” in me. What was a vague fondness for a number of things began to acquire form, to move in a certain direction. It acted as a spark for my imagination and creativity.
I honestly don’t know if I’d be the same person had I not read Tolkien’s books, or if I did so many years later. That’s how great of an impact his work had on me.

Also:
If you’re one of the people who have seen the Hobbit films but haven’t read the book I feel sorry for you.
If you’re one of those who have neither seen the films nor read the book then I envy you, since that means you can experience the pure joy that is reading it for the first time.

Last but not least:
Yes, I know the cover features (badly printed) art that’s actually from LoTR, however that’s how this specific greek edition was printed at the time and I love it.

BLACKSAD by JUANJO GUARNIDO

What’s it about?
A series of graphic novels about John Blacksad, a private investigator living in 50s-60s USA, inhabited by animals instead of humans.

Blacksad is smart and charming but also flawed and often vulnerable… We follow in his -rather stealthy, he’s a cat afterall! – footsteps as he unravels the threads of mysterious cases, orbited by an equally interesting cast of characters – whether those are helpful companions or ruthless villains.

Why should I read it?
I mean, it’s noir crime stories with amazing hand-painted art and anthropomorphic animals as protagonists… How can you not read it?!

The books were photographed by the talented Maria Siorba. You can see/follow her work by visiting her site or instagram page.

The Silmarillion – Binding Tolkien

Tags

bookbinding, fine binding, Τόλκιν, Το Σιλμαρίλλιον, J.R.R. Tolkien, leather binding, leatherbound, The Silmarillion, Tolkien

When I was 11-12 years old an uncle and aunt came to visit. Not knowing what to bring as a gift they went to a bookshop and asked the bookseller to recommend something for a child of said age. “You know… I have just the thing, he’ll love it!” said he – and gave them the Hobbit…
Twenty years later I still feel grateful to that person.

Upon reading the Hobbit something “clicked” in me. What was a vague fondness for a number of things began to acquire form, to move in a certain direction. It acted as a spark for my imagination and creativity.
I honestly don’t know if I’d be the same person if I hadn’t read Tolkien’s books, or if I did so many years later. That’s how great of an impact his work had on me.

So, I was delighted when S.B. asked me to bind a copy of Silmarillion; strangely enough it was the first time anyone had commissioned a Tolkien binding.
S.B. had a very clear idea of how the binding was going to look like: classic, with grey and silver being the prevalent colors. The client also requested a very particular marbled paper which had to be custom made – many thanks to Jemma Lewis who managed to do a spectacular job: the photos don’t do it justice really!

After some time the binding was almost finished, the spine decoration was all that was left. But then disaster stroke…
  I noticed a tiny tear, in the one spot that could spell doom for the entire binding: the inner part of the leather hinge, just next to the headband (there’s a word for that, isn’t there? help me out English colleagues!).

I was not very happy with the particular calf, it felt “dry” from the beginning. It was the only grey leather (per the client’s request) I could source that was suitable for bookbinding though and I was able to get to this point without any real problems. For what is more I was also impressed with how well it set on the spine bands during covering.

Yet here I was looking at the tear and trying to decide what to do with it. It was only on the interior and minute in size, half a rice grain in length. With a good leather patch over it the book could perhaps endure a lifetime of use without any problem or …it could start expanding and tear through the entire hinge ruining the binding…
There were 3 options:

a) Cancel the commission and refund.
b) Proceed with finishing the binding at the client’s responsibility.
c) Or bind a new book using a different leather.

All affected the client in one way or the other so I thought it best not to take a decision without first discussing it with S.B.

I explained the issue in detail. S.B. was willing to wait so we went  for the third option, this time with a new edition.
After a lot of work forwarding was once more complete and was time for tooling.

The client wanted Tolkien’s monogram on the spine so I carved a new handtool for the occasion.

For the spine’s decoration I came up with 8 versions for the client to choose, all within a more classic style.

The client also wanted a leather-bound case to house the book and I proposed that we use a part of the Beleriand Map for its decoration.
This way it would compliment the classic-looking binding while being an nice item on its own. Its spine would also stand out on the shelf and be instantly recognizable among the rest of the books.

Silmarillion comes with a map that is 5 times the book’s page size when unfolded. Keeping it in the book was not an option as it would prevent the binding from closing well and put stress on the back hinge.

However I also didn’t want to just place it on top or under the binding inside the case as that could potentially mark the leather and would simply not look nice. It had to be at a separate compartment, yet readily available.

This is the solution I came up with: a “ drawer” with a silk ribbon that allows for quick and easy removal of the map – pretty neat!

Choosing which part of the map to use for the decoration was tricky: there are many empty areas and others that are full of mountains and forests. I wanted a bit of everything and so I went for Doriath and the northern mountain ranges.

I printed a template and used a pyrographer to trace the design on the leather. I then deepened the impression with a 2nd and occasionally a 3rd pass. After that I used an acrylic pen to color every single detail.

The entire process, from outlining to tooling to coloring, took much more than I expected – J.R.R. sure loves his trees…!

Kaethi K. of the Prancing Pony (Greek Tolkien Society) had kindly helped me in sourcing a suitable edition and had expressed interest in seeing the finished binding. When my work was complete I sent an invitation to her, open to rest of the members as well.

Some defied the summer heat and visited my bindery to see the binding up close. To make things more interesting and illustrate the amount of work that goes into a bound book I did a small presentation of the bookbinding process and many were keen to try their hand at sewing and tooling – with great results!

I must say, I have rarely seen so much excitement for a bound book and bookbinding in general! It was simply great to be able to share this with you people, you rock!

After that, binding and case began a long voyage to Alaska, which I’ll admit was rather exciting to add to the list of destinations for my work – Achievement Unlocked!

A few days ago I received notice that the binding has arrived and the owner is quite happy!
May they keep each other good company for all the years to come.

Namarie.