Harcourt Bindery Services

Our Services

How can we serve you?

At Harcourt Bindery we are proud to offer a full range of fine and hand binding services including Bible rebinding and restoration, presentation and limited editions, restoration and protective boxes, period style and traditional bindings and modern and artistic bindings.

From sewing and leather work to the final touch of the gold finisher, our highly skilled binders use only the finest materials and employ proven, traditional methods to ensure that your finished bindings exceed your expectations.

Pricing

Since each book is unique, and the degree to which a book may need to be repaired or rebound varies, work is quoted by the job. Please email us with photos to [email protected] to discuss your project.

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Bible Rebinding and Restoration

For over a century we have specialized in the rebinding and repair of bibles and our staff is skilled in all areas of bible work. The bindery stocks both smooth and pebble grained morocco leathers, and we can create simple flexible leather covers on hand-held Bibles or magnificent bindings for pulpit bibles and Books of Common Prayer.

We take pride in the care we give to restoring older family table-top bibles from the 19th century. Books of Remembrance, Hymnals, Missals and other religious works are all rebound or restored to the highest level of workmanship. We also work with calligraphers for special presentation pages or dedications.

Period Style & Traditional Bindings

In our shop we have more than 3,000 brass finishing tools for gold work. These allow our finishers to match any binding style, from medieval to modern. We still use genuine gold leaf (not foil) which imparts a brilliance and vitality that is unsurpassed. We stock imported calfskins of excellent quality, along with top grades of Nigerian Moroccos. Harcourt's collection of hand marbled papers ranges from 18th century facsimiles to genuine 19th century papers; modern papers include batik, printed stock, and hand marbled papers from craftsmen representing seven countries.

Our staff is also skilled in antique sprinkling techniques, laced-in bindings, and other technical aspects of historical bindings.

We also specialize in creating unique or traditional Books of Remembrance, ledgers, guest books, blank books and diaries.

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Harcourt bindery styles

Rebinding

We offer a variety of options for producing presentation and limited edition bindings. Any variation of these styles can be done to meet your needs.

  1. Title only with raised bands
  2. Plain spine with leather label
  3. Title only with gold lines by the raised bands
  4. Title on label with fake band lines in gold
  5. Title with gold lines by bands and gold center tools
  6. Title with gilt single line panels and center tools
  7. Full gilt panels and center tools in gold
  8. Gilt panels and centers with a long panel and diaper design
  9. Combination of gold and blind tooling with gold centers and blind strapping coming onto the covers; wide two line gold frame on upper and lower covers

Custom Clamshell Boxes

For rare and fragile materials, we offer all types of portfolios, slipcases and clamshell boxes in leather or cloth. These are used to hold letters and documents, first editions both early and modern ones, with dust jackets. The boxes can be made to be not only practical, but also to look just like a book. The two telescoping trays afford maximum protection with a neat and attractive appearance.

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Materials

At the Harcourt Bindery, we have a large variety of cloth, vegetable dyed leathers, marbled papers, fonts, and thousands of stamps, brass plates, and other tools to customize your project to meet your desires.