Paper quality of books


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Serkanner
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Paper quality of books

Post by Serkanner »

There is something I have been wondering about for a long time, but never found an answer for.

I buy a lot of books. Really a lot and I have reached almost 1400 copies.

I noticed a difference in binding and paper quality. Some have nice thin paper wich is neatly cut. Like this:

Image

But other books have thikker quality paper which is very roughly cut.

Image

Do you know more about the reasoning behind these differences? Why are there only two variaties and not four. I don't have books with thick paper which is neatly cut, nor books with thin paper which is roughly cut. It boggles me.

Thanks in advance.
"... the mystery of life isn't a problem to solve but a reality to experience."

“There is no escape—we pay for the violence of our ancestors.”

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Naib
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Re: Paper quality of books

Post by Naib »

That uneven edge is called Deckle edging. It's actually considered a higher grade of binding as it is supposed to harken back to an older time when this sort of edge happened.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deckle
Serkanner
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Re: Paper quality of books

Post by Serkanner »

Naib wrote:That uneven edge is called Deckle edging. It's actually considered a higher grade of binding as it is supposed to harken back to an older time when this sort of edge happened.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deckle
Wow. That is very cool. I never knew this. Thank you Naib for helping me to become a bit more knowledgeable.
"... the mystery of life isn't a problem to solve but a reality to experience."

“There is no escape—we pay for the violence of our ancestors.”

Sandrider: "Keith went to Bobo's for a weekend of drinking, watched some DVDs,
and wrote a Dune Novel."
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Naib
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Joined: 30 Jan 2014 15:54

Re: Paper quality of books

Post by Naib »

Serkanner wrote:
Naib wrote:That uneven edge is called Deckle edging. It's actually considered a higher grade of binding as it is supposed to harken back to an older time when this sort of edge happened.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deckle
Wow. That is very cool. I never knew this. Thank you Naib for helping me to become a bit more knowledgeable.
:)
pcqypcqy
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Joined: 07 Jun 2017 05:54

Re: Paper quality of books

Post by pcqypcqy »

Interesting, i would have said for sure that the rougher edge was the cheaper, poorer quality one. Reading that article, the irony is that this was the cheaper way to do it originally, with the sharp edges requiring extra manufacturing steps and therefore cost. Now it has reversed.
distrans
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Re: Paper quality of books

Post by distrans »

an outstanding series
and its address of the book


RTÉ documentary series exploring the craft traditions of Ireland. https://hands.ie/
Narrated by historian Maurice Craig. Filmed in 1981.

Hands: A Dublin Bookbinder
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RBd67qQy96k
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