The Development of Endpapers

Linda Blaser, Conservator, The Folger Shakespeare Library, © 1976
(A more extensive version was published in the GBW Journal Vol. XXXII, No. 1, Spring 1994).

The following endpapers are examples of several endpapers currently in use for different purposes. These endpapers were compiled from a class on endpaper construction taught by Donald Etherington and Christopher Clarkson in September 1973.

Example 1

This is a simple endpaper with a strong linen joint and a Japanese paper hook guard. The Japanese paper hook guard closes up the gap between the endpaper and the first section by booking around the first section.

Example 2

This is a variation of example 1 with the linen tipped to the white folio and the Japanese paper hook guard tipped over the linen, hooking around the'first section where it is tipped again. The tipping over the linen hides the linen strip, and the tipping to the first section aids in sewing by keeping the hooked guard from slipping off the section while in the process of sewing.

Example 3

This is another variation of example 1. A double folio of white paper is used instead of one folio. This endpaper gives the binder more flyleaves.

Example 4

This endpaper consists of hooked leaves. It is very important to step the hooked guards so that they will not cuase a hard ridge which would break the section whenever opened.

This endpaper is useful on large books when there is not paper large enough available to form folios the right size for the text block.

Example 5

In this endpaper the marble folio and the white folio are made (pasted) together to form a still flyleaf. The paste is applied to the white flyleaf so that upon drying the stiff made flyleaf pulls towards the textblock instead of away from it.

Example 6

This is a variation of example 5. The only difference is that the waste sheet is tipped to the outside of the linen instead of the marble sheet. This eliminates the possibility of damage to the marble paper when removing the waste sheet. The placement of the waste sheet can help in the binding operation, too. If the waste sheet is tipped in from the folio at the point where the backing shoulder is to go, it forms a visual line to put the backing boards up to.

Example 7

This is another variation of a made endpaper, sometimes referred to as a flexie end. Instead of the marble and white leaves being stuck all over to each other, they are simply tipped together at the spine edge. The marble folio is left about a 1/4 of an inch longer at the foredge. This 1/4 of an inch of the marble folio is folded towards the white folio. The fold is then stuck down to the white folio. This endpaper has a very flexible first flyleaf instead of the stiff one created by the made endpaper.

Example 8

This is a cloth jointed stiff leaved endpaper often used in ledger work. The adhesive used on this endpaper is a polyvinyl acetate glue. This is a very strong endpaper.

Example 9

This is a variation of the cloth jointed endpaper. Instead of a stiff flyleaf this endpaper has a flexible flyleaf.

Example 10

This is a leather jointed endpaper. The areas of the hair side of the leather which are glued are sanded for good adhesion.

The leather joint goes over the joint of the book and onto the book board. Another leaf of marble paper is glued onto the book board.,

Example 11

This is a flexible zigzag endpaper with a leather joint. A marble cover lining is added the same way as in example 10

Example 12