Michael O'Brien

TRADITIONAL BOOKBINDER

HISTORIC PRECINCT, OAMARU, NEW ZEALAND

ORIGINAL MARBLED PAPER BOOKS AND STATIONERY

MARBLED PAPER BOOKS

All marbled paper is original and made by myself. No two sheets are alike, although patterns and colours can be imitated.

Acid-free paper

Two sizes; 128 pages; books ½ or ¼ bound.

"...This Hand Bound Book is made from high quality Acid Free Paper, hand sewn with Irish Linen thread on strong tapes. Silk headbands contrast with bookcloth and marbled paper. This binding first came into popular use in England during the 1830’s with the advent of bookcloth. Marbling is a complex method of paper decoration first practised in Eighth Century Japan, and only became widespread some ten centuries later in Western Europe. Each sheet is unique and cannot be reproduced.

This Hand Made Book was bound in my Bindery with Care and Contemplation in contrast to mass produced commodities."

Small Book (Cloth Spine)

Quarter-bound 170 x 120 A6 $68.00 MASQ

Half- bound 170 x 120 A6 $80.00 MASH

Medium Book (Cloth spine)

Quarter-bound 235 x 165 A5 $90.00 MAMQ

Half-bound 235 x 165 A5 $100.00 MAMH

Quarter-bindings & half-bindings in Acid Free paper.

Leather Binding

Small only; suitable for Victorian or Edwardian re-enactors

Quarter-Bound 165 x 115 A6 $300.00 MALQ

Half-Bound 165 x 115 A6 $525.00 MALH

Quarter-Bound cloth binding

LEATHER BINDINGS

Art Portfolio

Small 300 x 215 A4 $110.00 MAPS

Medium 425 x 300 A3 $195.00 MAPM

Large 600 x 425 A2 $250.00 MAPL

Desk Blotter

Medium 425 x 300 A3 $120.00 MADB

Magic Wallet

Small 162 x 82 bank note $20.00 MAMWS

Medium 235 x 160 A5 $45.00 MAMWM

Pencil Pot

Round 100 x 180 $20.00 MAPP

Box & Paper & Envelopes

C6 $36.00 MABPE

"..This book has been hand-bound using only the finest materials and techniques. High quality acid-free paper has been folded and sewn by hand using fine linen thread. Hand sewn silk end-bands compliment leather and marbled paper. The leather is vegetable-tanned goat skiin which has been stained.

Marbling is a complex method of paper decoration originating in 8th century Japan. Each sheet is unique, and can never be repeated like the first. This style of binding came about at the end of the Eighteenth Century, and remained popular until the advent of book cloth in the 1830's. This book will last more than one lifetime if well cared for ".