ABSTRACT
A book destined to stand on the shelf and only be very occasionally referred to, may be suitably covered in vellum, but for a flexibly sewn book made to open very freely, and meant for constant use, such as a dictionary, morocco makes by far the more suitable covering. For covering books, many different materials have been used with more or less success. Silk, satin, and velvet are occasionally used for covering books; but these are generally purely fancy coverings with very little utility. A very gradual reduction of thickness is made from the mark where the edge of the board will be to the edge of the leather, and possibly a reduction of thickness may be necessary at the part covering the back. A little dressing of the surface by hand is sometimes necessary afterward; and this is most effectively done with a spoke-shave, like the one used by carpenters, the leather being clamped to the stone at the edge.
