Jeffrey Altepeter, Bookbinder

The Fine Binding Gallery

Fine bindings, sometimes called design bindings, are essentially “books as art.”  Unique leather bindings with hand tooling and onlaid leather designs.  The books are usually fine, letterpress printed, limited editions. The designs generally attempt to reflect the contents in some way.

This gallery is currently under construction.
More images coming soon!

Proverbs, with commentary by Erasmus of Rotterdam
Press Intermezzo 1999

Full black goatskin with gray leather onlaid panels on front and back, blind tooled.  Inside view shows doublures of gray and black leather with sunken red suede panel, hand marbled fly leaf, and the hand sewn silk headbands.  Photo at left shows the full treatment, including suede lined chemise and slipcase.

The design:  One corner of the gray leather panel appears to be peeling back to reveal what lies beneath, much as the commentary by Erasmus reveals the meanings and origins of the proverbs.

Finishing in Hand Bookbinding
Herbert & Peter Fahey
San Francisco, 1941

Full black goat skin.  Blind and gold tooling. The design demonstrates the development of a traditional diaper pattern, built upon a diagonal division of the space. The combination of blind and gold tooling also illustrates the progression in gold finishing, which begins with a blind impression then tooled again with layers of gold leaf.

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