Binding Technique
A method of fastening the sheets of a folded book block with the cover.
The main techniques used for binding a passport book block:
- side sewing;
- thread sewn binding;
- saddle stitching.
As for side sewing, sheets of a book block are folded and bound with a thread that is passed through the thickness of the book block on the gutter margin, i.e. at a certain distance from the spine. In the other two cases, the sheets are folded and bound with a thread or metal staples along the binding edge.
Fig. 1. Great Britain. Passport. Bottom edge. Side sewing of a book block made of folded sheets (the place of stitching is marked with an arrow)
a
b
Fig. 2. Latvia. Travel document issued in 2007:
a — page spread (pages 18-19); b — the same. Top edge. Thread sewn binding of a book block made of folded sheets. The seam of the stitching thread goes 4 mm away from the binding edge
a
b
Fig. 3. Kyrgyzstan. Passport issued in 2007:
a — page spread (pages 16-17); b — the same. Top edge. Thread sewn binding of a book block made of folded sheets. The seam of the stitching thread goes through the center of the binding edge
a
b
Fig. 4. Belarus. Refugee identity certificate issued in 2000:
a — saddle stitching (binding with metal staples); b — the same. Cover. Zoomed fragment. Metal staple