Why are bookbinders invisible?
I’m a bit of a book collector of special editions (sometimes they come unbound) and I’m also a fan of seeing other people’s bookbinding* work.
But just TRY to find out who made what, and if there are photos for it.
In a recent email conversation with a small-press publisher of fine limited and lettered editions, it was like pulling teeth — with no anesthetic — to get the name of the person who does his fine binding. Not only was it hard, but I suspect I deeply insulted or annoyed him in the process.
Why? You think he’d be proud to show her work – a well-renowned person – and that her name might sell more copies of the books?! Or are the lettered editions SO sought after that the binder completely disappears, no need whatsoever to acknowledge the hands that made the beautiful package. The package that, in and of itself, has an aesthetic worth? Indeed, no need even to show images of the item for sale it is so sought after!?
Wow – I have to find a product that sells that well. (“one x for sale, $750 + shipping and taxes” and it flies out the door! whoot!)
Ok, so crappy book binders (“kitchen table bookbinders”) aren’t going to get a contract to do lettereds. Understandable. But why on earth should the persons’ or company’s name be intentionally or unintentionally withheld? Is there some sort of conspiracy on the part of the publishers to minimize what it is that is the bookbinder’s art?
I don’t really think this is the case – I do think that most publishers simply don’t think about this very much.
They have no trouble saying that they have x number of so-and-so at so-and-so much, and it’s “nicely bound in leather and boxed with a this and a that special slip out whatnot”. So why not “nicely bound in xxx leather by xxx”? Doesn’t that add something to a work? I’d personally rather buy a fine binding where the binder and materials used are known and documented than otherwise. I want also the reputation that goes behind the bound work, of all parties involved in what becomes the finished item.
If there are any small-press publishers of fine bindings reading this, and you don’t document your fine bindings and lettered editions – Please start thinking about it!
Ours should not be an invisible art. Ours should also not be an art with silly professional jealousies. I mean, really. Why competitive? We are all business people, some better than others. Some are artists in their own right; again, some better than others. Art is subjective, and so not competitive. Business – well, that takes care of itself if you’re a rotten business person.
Let’s celebrate what we share, and encourage the people who publish the books we bind to fully and accurately document the work we provide.
* this goes for anyone who produces special editions of anything, really. For example, letterpress artists. Describe your work! Build your catalogue! Tell the world what fonts you use and why. I want to know. Maybe someone else will, too.
