New York Today: A Bookbinder’s Craft

Henry was such a caring and helpful man. I went to him to when right before I had proposed to my wife. I asked if he could make me a special book, a book that had a secret compartment that would hide the engagement ring. His work is definitely a lost art. I'm very appreciative of the amount of time and effort he put into crafting my little book for my wife. She loved it. It's great to see his craft be shared.

I enjoyed the feature on the bookbinder. But "guillotine" isn't just what Mr. Alpert calls it. It's what everyone calls it.

https://www.google.com/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&ion=1&espv=...

Homage to Henry

"I take from nothing, and I make something."

Few words we could hope to say
So exceed the everyday:
As artists' credos go,
What wiser shall we know?

Always a pleasure to hear about some long lost art, that is still alive in New York - It's sometimes hard to believe that not too long ago this was still a vibrant manufacturing city, alive with factories, rails and shipyards.
For all of us who still hold the printed word close to our hearts, this story was relevatory as much as it was celebratory.
Thank you.

Homage to Henry

"I take from nothing,
And I make something."

Few words we could hope to say
So exceed the everyday:
As artists' credos go,
What wiser shall we know?

SPRING TUNE-UP
When tulips meet tulips,
What follows is this:
A feathery, flowing
Floral kiss.

I hoped to see a young apprentice in the background, learning this craft to continue its contribution of REAL books to the next generation. Skip a generation and it's gone.

Anyone who's explored a hand-bound book, preferably with letterpress typesetting, will be aware of the appeal of its tactile and visual attributes. No two are the same, making each a rare artifact to be treasured by its owner not just for its content but also for its physical artistry. Truly, the medium is the message.

A guillotine, really? Real hand bookbinders use a plough to cut the foredge. I have three in my bindery.

I thought the girl staring down the bull was Janet Yellen. Always threatening (yet rarely actually) raise interest rates. Maybe they should put a white wig on the girl.

Bookbinder

Disregard
His self-belittling mutter:
Amid the cacophony
And the clutter,
He really * is *
A diamond-cutter!

Bucks spend Knicks

My late father re-bound books for my parents' antiquarian book business, and there are still many active hand-binders in this country. For those interested in ornamenting bound books, the Society of Gilders is offering a class in book edge-gilding, and one on gilding on leather, at its June conference. Both are taught by Mr. Sam Feinstein, a noted Chicago bookbinder. societyofgilders.org

A sincere tribute to Mr. Alpert and his craft.

Tune of "I Could Write a Book"

If you ask him, he can bind your book
It beats the heck out of a Kindle or Nook
He can trim the shmutz off of every page
And you'll see it won't show its age

And the complex texture of your tome
Will bring you nachas when displayed in your home
And you'll find tradition in the design
That you can't find reading online.

Captivated by your link to all those plays you can see if all you have is an hour. We used to brag about seeing three shows in a day. Wonder if it could be timed for people to have a five-show day.

Tune of Haven't Got Time for the Pain

All those Albee plays where I'd laugh until I'd weep
And O'Neill drama if the seats were cheap
But these days -
Now I haven"t got time for a play
I haven't got hours for a play
I can't shut my phone for a play
But I can go now

Yoy came along, and you linked a great new trend
Where it's just an hour from start to end
Since I hadn't had time for a play
Did not have three hours for a play
But thanks to your link I can say
I'm in the know now!

I hadn't had time for a play
I don't have three hours for a play
I can't shut my phone for a play
(Except Bette in Dolly, of course)

Repeat chorus.