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Look Back: Colonial Williamsburg printing and book binding

Daily Press Archives
Bill Pittman uses the press to plow and trim a stitched book . (1973)
David Bowman / Daily Press
Dawn Estrin sews pages together. (1983)
Kyndell Harkness / Daily Press
Colonial Williamsburg master book binder Bruce Plumley works in his shop.
Kyndell Harkness / Daily Press
Master bookbinder Bruce Plumley hammers the pages on the other side of the spine until the spine is pushed out, resulting in the spine's rounded appearance. (1998)
Daily Press Archives
Master bookbinder Bruce Plumley works in his shop behind the post office in Colonial Williamsburg. (1998)
Kyndell Harkness / Daily Press
Colonial Williamsburg master bookbinder, Bruce Plumley, puts the book pages against a frame strung with flax cords and sews the pages with a needle and linen thread to the cords.
Daily Press Archives
Master bookbinder Bruce Plumley works in his shop behind the post office in Colonial Williamsburg. (1998)
Daily Press Archives
Eugene Crain shows the process of paper marbling. (1973)
Kyndell Harkness / Daily Press
Colonial Williamsburg book binder: Cover designs may include gold leaf or different inlays of leather, suede or even glass. The inside cover of the book may be lined with paper, leather, silk or suede. (1998)
Kyndell Harkness / Daily Press
Master bookbinder Bruce Plumley works in his shop behind the post office in Colonial Williamsburg. (1998)
Daily Press Archives
Master bookbinder Bruce Plumley works in his shop behind the post office in Colonial Williamsburg. (1998)
Daily Press Archives
Master bookbinder Bruce Plumley works in his shop behind the post office in Colonial Williamsburg. (1998)
David Bowman / Daily Press
Willie Parker hammers wedges into the plate to keep the type together.
Joe Fudge / Daily Press
Ms. Yoder at the Colonial Williamsburg book bindery. (1983)
David Bowman / Daily Press
Willie Parker sifts through trays of type. (1983)
Kyndell Harkness / Daily Press
Master bookbinder Bruce Plumley works in his shop behind the post office in Colonial Williamsburg. (1998)
Daily Press Archives
Craig Amo works at the 18th century English common press. (1973)
Kyndell Harkness / Daily Press
Colonial Williamsburg master bookbinder Bruce Plumley lines up the pages, sliding a blade back and forth over the edges to trim folds and uneven edges on the three sides of the pages.
Kyndell Harkness / Daily Press
Master bookbinder Bruce Plumley crisscrosses a red and white thread to bind the top of a book in his shop behind the post office in Colonial Williamsburg. (1998)
Daily Press Archives
Master bookbinder Bruce Plumley works in his shop behind the post office in Colonial Williamsburg. (1998)
David Bowman / Daily Press
Apprentices Peter Stinely (left) and Albert Albergotti ink plates and examine copy.
Daily Press Archives
Colonial Williamsburg book binding

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By Virginia Gazette and Virginia Gazette staff

PUBLISHED: August 30, 2016 at 1:03 p.m. | UPDATED: August 10, 2019 at 4:51 p.m.

Printing and book binding in Colonial Williamsburg.