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2brother_salvatore
I've assumed that buckram is a type of cloth. But I am far from an expert.
3terebinth
Seems from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buckram that buckram now implies an aqueous acrylic coating for added resilience: I've for instance Nonesuch volumes from the '30s in a very durable and smooth cloth I've always considered to be buckram, which I think must comfortably pre-date the existence of acrylic strengtheners.
I think there always is a slightly smeared appearance to new FS bindings described as buckram, but others, 'Lost City of the Incas' among them, certainly look very similar but for the coated effect: others again, for instance the Patrick Leigh Fermor volumes, are in a very 'clothy' sort of cloth with quite apparent threads, which I'd not tend to confuse with buckram at all. Then, I'm certainly no expert either. But, yes, buckram is a form of cloth, so presumably to describe buckram as cloth isn't exactly a mistake, whereas to describe a particular sort of cloth as buckram could be.
I think there always is a slightly smeared appearance to new FS bindings described as buckram, but others, 'Lost City of the Incas' among them, certainly look very similar but for the coated effect: others again, for instance the Patrick Leigh Fermor volumes, are in a very 'clothy' sort of cloth with quite apparent threads, which I'd not tend to confuse with buckram at all. Then, I'm certainly no expert either. But, yes, buckram is a form of cloth, so presumably to describe buckram as cloth isn't exactly a mistake, whereas to describe a particular sort of cloth as buckram could be.
4Quicksilver66
Buckram is indeed a type of cloth - but it is treated in some way (I think the process involves boiling!) - so it much harder and more durable. With the exception of leather, buckram is the binding par excellence in my view. It’s durable, beautiful and can be handled without fear of soiling it (unlike natural cloth or paper).
5wcarter
Copied from Wikipedia:
"Buckram is a stiff cloth, made of cotton, and still occasionally linen, which is used to cover and protect books. Buckram can also be used to stiffen clothes. Modern buckrams have been stiffened by soaking in a substance, usually now pyroxylin, to fill the gaps between the fibres.
............................
Millinery buckram is different from bookbinding buckram. It is impregnated with a starch, which allows it to be softened in water, pulled over a hat block, and left to dry into a hard shape.....................
American-made Buckram book cloth is a poly-cotton base cloth coated in aqueous acrylic. It was designed to withstand heavy use in libraries and offers strength, moisture resistance and mildew resistance. Buckram is available in different grades.
In the US, F grade buckram is offered in 15 glossy colors. It meets specifications for use in textbooks and exceeds performance specifications for library binding.
Both grades are suitable for reference books, hymnals, textbooks, albums, looseleaf binders, menus and other editions that require an extra level of protection."
"Buckram is a stiff cloth, made of cotton, and still occasionally linen, which is used to cover and protect books. Buckram can also be used to stiffen clothes. Modern buckrams have been stiffened by soaking in a substance, usually now pyroxylin, to fill the gaps between the fibres.
............................
Millinery buckram is different from bookbinding buckram. It is impregnated with a starch, which allows it to be softened in water, pulled over a hat block, and left to dry into a hard shape.....................
American-made Buckram book cloth is a poly-cotton base cloth coated in aqueous acrylic. It was designed to withstand heavy use in libraries and offers strength, moisture resistance and mildew resistance. Buckram is available in different grades.
In the US, F grade buckram is offered in 15 glossy colors. It meets specifications for use in textbooks and exceeds performance specifications for library binding.
Both grades are suitable for reference books, hymnals, textbooks, albums, looseleaf binders, menus and other editions that require an extra level of protection."
6cronshaw
>3 terebinth:-5 That's so informative thanks. I've learned so many things from LT and FSD!
7housefulofpaper
This is from Geoffrey Glaister's Encyclopedia of the Book (2nd edition, 1979):
"Buckram: a strong fabric made of jude, cotton, or linen, glazed and stiffened by size and glue, and used since 1860 for book covers...The term was originally applied to woven cotton impregnated with starch."
I only mention this because I don't think "traditional" buckram is as resilient as the modern version (for example, my Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire picked up some buttery-looking fingerprints from handling; I think it's where the size started to dissolve).
"Buckram: a strong fabric made of jude, cotton, or linen, glazed and stiffened by size and glue, and used since 1860 for book covers...The term was originally applied to woven cotton impregnated with starch."
I only mention this because I don't think "traditional" buckram is as resilient as the modern version (for example, my Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire picked up some buttery-looking fingerprints from handling; I think it's where the size started to dissolve).
