The craft of book binding

Bookbinder Sam Ellenport keeps a tin of “Old Russia” leather dressing on his antique roll-up desk to remind him of the way things were. For 40 years, he owned Harcourt Bindery in Boston. There, the smells of leathers mingled with that of hot glue heated by an open gas flame. The motors powering equipment made such a commotion that the floor rattled.