Skip to content

Bespoke Medieval Gothic Bookbinding

As a side project, I am offering my relatively amateur but skillful services as a bookbinder, specializing in the 15th century Gothic style.

Photos coming eventually.

Got now, if you’d like to commission a book from me, please fill out this form:

    First off, thank you for considering commissioning a bespoke hand bound book from me. Your first step is to let me know what you'd like me to make. All my books are hand made, using a slight variations on medieval gothic bookbinding. I selected this style because of its handling, durability, and wide range of decorative options. The cost to make these is highly variable based on what you'd like in the design. Even using budget materials, a lot of time goes into crafting these. Even a simple, un-decorated, pocket sized book of only a hundred pages or so can take two full days to make. Please be patient since some materials take time to acquire on top of the labor that goes into these.

    Let's make sure I can contact you. I'll follow up as soon as I am able.

    What size book are you looking to have made?

    How many usable pages would you like your book to have? (You'll get a few more, but this will be a rough number to determine materials and labor.)

    What kind of paper would you like in your book?

    Optional: If you have a preference for the sewing style, please let me know:

    Optional: Do you have a preference for how many cords, thongs, or pairs of cords are used? (These create the raised bands across the book's spine):

    Optional: Sewing Thread: Any preference on sewing thread?

    What cover material would you like?

    What color for your cover?

    I make my own brass clasps by hand, but I can accommodate other preferences. What kind of clasp/closure would you like?

    How many clasps? (Smaller books usually have one. Larger books usually have a pair of matching clasps.)

    What kind of cover decorations would you like?
    NoneSimple leather edge tooling (lines)Corner bossesCorner studs (round dome)Corner studs (pyramid)Corner studs (truncated cone)Center Boss or stud (same as corners)Center Boss or stud different from corners (specify in comments)Corner edge protectors (simple) (Howsam B.4.2)Corner edge protectors (fold-over) (Howsam B.4.3)Fore edge protector (Howsam B.5.1)Flat plate(s) (Specify in comments.) (Howsam B.3.1)Custom Work (Specify in comments))

    Now, let's talk about the heart of the matter - what is inside the book. By default, I make blank books for art and journaling, but I can accommodate different needs. Let us begin with content. What should be on the pages?