All 1,000 copies of the Rubáiyát of Omar Khayyám sold out last week. I am utterly astonished, as I could neither have believed nor foreseen such demand for it.

{_{New watchers who are interested can find out more about this book in this entry: [link]} }

The Fine Book Bindery, who bound the copies of the book, have made a quick slideshow of some of the process: [link]

The huge stacks in the first pictures are the uncut, printed sheets of the book's pages. These are then cut down to the book size, and the pages are further hand-cut for a deckled edge. The ornate, silvery thing in the next few pictures is the brass they made of my endpaper design, which is used to block the design onto the blue endpapers. Next, you can see that the wording of the limitation spread are typeset and printed by letterpress, not digitally. The top edge of the text block is then gilded. The spine is quarter-bound in vellum, then the lettering blocked in 22-carat gold (it's so funny to see a whole roll of the stuff!) - incidentally, the spine lettering was done by a professional calligrapher, and is the only part of the book not by me. The illustration plates are finally 'tipped' in by hand. The last picture is of the cloth-bound solander presentation box.

I love seeing processes like these and the genuine craft involved, by people who truly know their work. It's also just wonderful to see one's book being physically put together this way (although this is only a fraction of it).

By the by, in case anyone had wondered: there are no royalties from sales of books published by the Folio Society, because of the nature of their books. I do get paid for being commissioned, of course; but I don't get a brass farthing from the sales of the magnificently-priced 1,000 copies. This is not a complaint at all, mind; it's just so you know, in case anyone imagined that I've become loaded as a result of all this. And no, please don't attack Folio; this is simply how they have to work.

Whilst we're on the subject of bookbinding, ~changeweaver has a number of handbound sketchbooks for sale, and is happy to receive commissions for them. The profits will also go towards some much needed medical funds. Please visit this journal entry for details: [link]

Thank you so much to new watchers, to everyone for all your favourites, for your continued interest, and quite simply for your general tolerance.

I am not always able to reply to every comment (though I do try), and I have had to choose not to thank everyone individually for favourites and watches (but again, I try to acknowledge the latter as much as possible), for which I do beg your pardon. Please be assured, however, that I appreciate them very much.


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