{"id":2448,"date":"2021-06-18T09:08:16","date_gmt":"2021-06-18T09:08:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/news.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk\/dorset-history-centre-blog\/?p=2448"},"modified":"2021-06-18T09:08:16","modified_gmt":"2021-06-18T09:08:16","slug":"conservation-tales-endpapers-and-how-to-spot-them","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/news.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk\/dorset-history-centre-blog\/2021\/06\/18\/conservation-tales-endpapers-and-how-to-spot-them\/","title":{"rendered":"Conservation tales: Endpapers and how to spot them!"},"content":{"rendered":"

Since the formation of books as we know them, endpapers or endleaves have existed in some form, situated between the textblock and the binding.\u00a0 Not unlike endbands which were discussed in a previous blog<\/a>, endpapers have evolved through time from providing protection for the textblock and structural support to becoming integral decorative features.<\/p>\n

Endpapers in their basic form are additional leaves of paper, or originally parchment, that were added to either end of a textblock.\u00a0 The outer pages of a textblock are always more susceptible to damage so these leaves protect the written text.<\/p>\n

In the 15th<\/sup> century blank vellum sheets would have been used, before plain paper or waste vellum was utilised, and later manuscript and printed waste paper.\u00a0 The second quarter of the 17th<\/sup> century saw the introduction of marble paper which became increasingly popular.\u00a0 In the later 18th<\/sup> century silk and leather doublures became fashionable for upmarket bindings; an example is shown later in the blog.<\/p>\n

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A small selection of endpapers found at DHC<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The earliest marble used in England, from 1630s, was typically a pattern called comb marble.\u00a0 From the 18th<\/sup> century curl or snail designs and spot patterns emerged.\u00a0 Other decorative paper was also used, such as paste paper and brocade or Dutch gilt paper.\u00a0 From the 19th<\/sup> century endpapers were also used to display artistic work relating to the text or additional information such as maps.<\/p>\n

Endpapers consist of the \u2018pastedown\u2019, the leaf that is adhered to the inside of the board, and \u2018flyleaves\u2019, which are the leaves that come between the pastedown and the textblock.\u00a0 As with endbands, the construction of endpapers become more complicated depending on the size, structure and the value placed upon the binding.\u00a0 Three main constructions are discussed below, but as with all hand-crafted items, bookbinders often use a variety of methods to make endpapers and studying bindings will show a wealth of techniques.<\/p>\n

—<\/p>\n

The simplest endpapers are constructed of a single folded sheet.\u00a0 It has little strength or structural integrity but provides protection to the first and last pages of the textblock.<\/p>\n

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Simple folded sheet endpaper. There is visible staining from the turned in leather, showing how the endpapers protect the textblock.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

—<\/p>\n

The \u2018made\u2019 endpaper is so called because the underside of marble paper is often marked from the making process with coloured drips or fingerprints and as such is not presentable enough to be visible.\u00a0 It is therefore lined with a folded sheet of white paper, creating a pastedown of marble, a marble\/white flyleaf, followed by a white flyleaf.\u00a0 Whilst it is structurally sounder to sew this endpaper into the textblock, it can be simply pasted on.\u00a0 The \u2018made\u2019 endpaper can also be constructed with a cloth joint for additional strength, which is sewn along with the textblock.<\/p>\n

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\"\"A \u2018made\u2019 endpaper.<\/em><\/p>\n

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A made endpaper with cloth joint, constructed for additional strength.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

—<\/p>\n

\u2018Zigzag\u2019 endpapers require more work and are used for those bindings of greater quality. \u00a0They consist of three sheets of paper: two white and one marble.\u00a0 One sheet of white and the marble paper is folded in half once, whilst the second white sheet is folded with a zigzag. \u00a0The drawing shows their construction.\u00a0 They are made of the best quality paper and are always sewn onto the textblock.\u00a0 Their construction minimises the stress that is often exerted on the endpapers at the joint from continual opening and closing of the book. These endpapers can be adapted further to produce leather joints, doublures and silk or leather flyleaves.\u00a0 Doublure endpapers are created by forming a sunken area in the pastedown which is then inset with decorative leather, watered silk or decorative paper.<\/p>\n

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Construction of \u2018zigzag\u2019 endpapers<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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A \u2018zigzag\u2019 endpaper made with a leather joint to create a doublure.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Endpapers have an important structural and protective purpose, but they can also provide great artistic opportunity.\u00a0 These days endpapers are often used to great effect, especially in children\u2019s books, to build excitement, to delight and inspire.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Since the formation of books as we know them, endpapers or endleaves have existed in some form, situated between the textblock and the binding.\u00a0 Not unlike endbands which were discussed in a previous blog, endpapers have evolved through time from providing protection for the textblock and structural support to becoming integral decorative features. Endpapers in… Read more Conservation tales: Endpapers and how to spot them!<\/span><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1892,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[31],"tags":[82,71,9,333,109],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/news.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk\/dorset-history-centre-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2448"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/news.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk\/dorset-history-centre-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/news.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk\/dorset-history-centre-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk\/dorset-history-centre-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1892"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk\/dorset-history-centre-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2448"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/news.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk\/dorset-history-centre-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2448\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2462,"href":"https:\/\/news.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk\/dorset-history-centre-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2448\/revisions\/2462"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/news.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk\/dorset-history-centre-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2448"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk\/dorset-history-centre-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2448"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk\/dorset-history-centre-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2448"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}