Today in the post, I received from Leonard’s Book Restoration Station a copy of The Life of St. Columba which I had the bindery do up with hard boards covered with a fine deep red dyed calfskin, the traditional five raised ridges along the spine, a black applied leather label for the title, lovely marbled endpapers, and matching head and tail bands. The binding and materials are excellent. The only flaw, and it’s a minor one, is that the fada (accute accent mark) in the author’s name is pointing in the wrong direction. I did make a point of the inclusion of the fada, but I guess it’s unreasonable to expect the bookbinder to be an expert in Gaelic orthography. An accent mark is just an accent mark, I suppose.
I had the book finely rebound as I intend for this volume to see daily use for the rest of my life, as a means of knowing better, and meditating upon, the life of my great patron Colum Cille — the Dove of the Church — St. Columba. It certainly seems sturdy enough for the task. I would recommend the bindery to others. Their prices are very fair and the work was completed in several weeks.
