At the September 1st Open Book Clinic, I will have this book with me — Syntax of the Moods and Tenses of the Greek Verb. It needs resewing, among other things.
The cords have deteriorated, such that the signatures are no longer connected to one another. Nineteenth-century books were typically sewn on cords, as this one was. We often use the original sewing pattern when we need to resew a text block, but for this book I am going to use an unsupported (i.e., no cords) link stitch called Coptic stitch.
In Coptic binding the signatures are linked together with only the sewing thread. The oldest known books, as early as the 2nd century, were made this way by early Christians in Egypt. Coptic stitch is still used in book conservation as well as by craft bookbinders and book artists. Some good things never go out of style.
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