From the Bruce Peel Archives: Anatomy of a Book

Artist: Alexander McGuckin

Collection: Alexander McGuckin Bindings

Year: 2013

Call Number: Z 272 M3J — 2013 folio

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While the original bookbinding process called for upwards of 50 people doing different tasks in an assembly line, Edmonton-based historical bookbinder Alexander McGuckin does it alone. He’s mastered each task: sewing pages together, attaching leather covers, and finally using finishing tools to complete cover designs, often with gold gildleaf. In 2013, McGuckin created The Anatomy of a Book to showcase the traditional tools and skills needed for bookbinding.

The Anatomy of a Book isn’t really a book, but rather what McGuckin calls a “bindery in a box.” It contains all of the necessary bookbinding tools at a miniaturized scale of 1:3.5. The micro-bindery also comes with two blank “dummy books”: one with a cover attached, and one without a cover to show the detail involved.

“This process is essentially an art form. It’s a really cool learning tool, to be able to see what lies beneath a hand-crafted book.”
— Jesse Carson, Public Service Assistant.