Bookbinding

Working exclusively by hand and using only high quality materials, at Dragon Press Bindery we draw on long experience of time-honoured techniques to excel in traditional fine bookbinding, with its hallmarks of gilt edges, silk headbands and gold tooling in classic period style.

We are also adept in turning our expertise to the production of contemporary bindings, combining heritage craft skills with modern ideas. In collaboration with clients, we conceive and execute designs to both match personal sensibility and reflect book content, incorporating innovative structural concepts where appropriate.

In our view, fine bindings are three-dimensional, functioning works of art. Whether for a single volume or set, antiquarian or brand-new, your bespoke binding will be a lasting joy to see, handle and treasure.

We are experienced in other specialised book forms such as albums and stationery bindings. In particular, complex formats and springback ledgers.

    • Ready for dyeing

      Ready for dyeing

    • Lacing the vellum strip

      Lacing the vellum strip

    • CD compartment

      CD compartment

    • Hand sewn headbands

      Hand sewn headbands

    • Leather inlays on slipcase

      Leather inlays on slipcase

    • Video screen 10mm thickness

      Video screen 10mm thickness

    • Cutting an inner thread to attach the pin

      Cutting an inner thread to attach the pin

    • Making the threaded pin and nut

      Making the threaded pin and nut

    • Holes for pins

      Holes for pins

    • Tidying up the pins

      Tidying up the pins

    • Full leather binding with leather inlays

      Full leather binding with leather inlays

    • Selecting the leather

      Selecting the leather

    • Chamfering the boards

      Chamfering the boards

    • Lining the boards

      Lining the boards

    • Paring leather

      Paring leather

    • Colouring the book edge

      Colouring the book edge

    • Adding deatails to the book edge

      Adding deatails to the book edge

    • Cutting out for inlays

      Cutting out for inlays

    • Preparing board for the doublure

      Preparing board for the doublure

    • Doublure

      Doublure

    • Set of game books

      Set of game books

    • Working raised bands

      Working raised bands

    • English style cloth bindings

      English style cloth bindings

    • Edelpappband

      Edelpappband

    • Before tooling

      Before tooling

    • After tooling

      After tooling

    • Waiting to be covered

      Waiting to be covered

    • Full calf binding

      Full calf binding

    • Notebook with a lock

      Notebook with a lock

    • Full sprinkled calf binding

      Full sprinkled calf binding

    • The Pope also needs a binding from us

      The Pope also needs a binding from us

    • Full leather album with inlays

      Full leather album with inlays

    • Stainles steel clasp (not easy to cut)

      Stainles steel clasp (not easy to cut)

    • Gauffered edge

      Gauffered edge

    • Making clasps

      Making clasps

    • Clasp attached to binding

      Clasp attached to binding

    • Making a brass surround for book cover

      Making a brass surround for book cover

    • Decorated book edge

      Decorated book edge

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    Dragon Press Bindery Ltd
    Ynyswen, Nantgaredig,
    Carmarthen, SA32 7PG
    Company Number
    10772518
    Registered in England & Wales
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    © 2024 Dragon Press Bindery