Lettering

The title and the name of the author are the two things which are the most important and to which the design used on the back should be subordinated. The lettering should stand out plainly and at the same time not be out of proportion to the panel decoration.

As books vary much in thickness and as the thinnest hook may have a very voluminous title, it often taxes the worker's ingenuity to make a harmonious arrangement. In very thin books it may be found necessary to have no raised bands at all, the title covering the whole length of the back in a single line. In such cases, handle letters should be used. The size of type used must, of course, depend on the length of title and the thickness of the back. As a rule, type of larger size may be used in this style.

For an ordinary back to (3/4 to 1 1/4 inches) it is better to break long words or divide the title in several lines, properly proportioned, thus using a larger size type than would otherwise be the case. It is customary to place the title in the second panel, the author's name in the third. Many binders, however, skip one panel and place the author’s name in the fourth panel.

Often both title and name are placed in one panel (second), as one well-filled and well-proportioned panel is more decorative than two rather scantily filled. This should, however, never be done at a sacrifice of legibility.



It may be accepted that lettering on backs appears at its best when it is laid out by taking a perpendicular line through the center of the panel as a base line, the lettering being equal in amount on both sides of the line.

Some binders begin all words near the left edge of the panel, filling out the vacant spaces on the right by stars or dots corresponding to letters. If well done, it is very effective and appropriate in suitable cases.

Experimenting with a given sized panel and a selected type (or handle letters) is the only way in which the beginner will acquire a definite knowledge of the little difficulties which surround this particular branch of work. In experimenting on paper, however, it should be borne in mind that the type should be separated a trifle more when used on leather. Spacing the type is also useful for making a given word cover a slightly longer space.