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Mobility and Function in the Codex

Intervention Criteria in Book and Document Restoration

Pamplona, Spain, 18-19 October, 2007

Reading the codex is a physical act. While the mind is assimilating the conveyed content, manipulative hands, finger dexterities and progressive eye tracking work together to pace and advance a mechanical structure. That these two progressions of comprehension and manipulation merge so well in the codex is one of its special attributes in the context of other reading modes. By contrast, screen based reading requires a variety of prompts, screen loadings and screen drawing transmissions that can distract from attentive reading. Continual de-selection of unneeded content is required. Screen text navigation can require a conceptual exercise in itself, at the expense of content assimilation.

Attributes of codex navigation and skills of effective design and production of the mechanical codex structure can be overlooked. But these qualities have been of interest in book studies.(1) Much evidence of function is exemplified in bindings and a larger consideration of the materiality of the book concerns physical features, if not kinetic and dynamic performance.(2) The continuing dynamic performance of bindings, both old and new, is of special interest to book conservators.(3)

In the following discussions we will consider features of mobility and function in the codex binding. We should consider the mobility of the pages, mobility of the cover to text attachment and overall structural behaviors. While, inherent actions of physical book reading have not changed greatly, new needs for non-damaging opening during scanning and exhibition can now be added to dynamic demands on the codex structure.

Let's also consider topics of preservation practice that relate directly to needs for mobility and function in the codex binding. For example, attributes of leaf attachment in the sewn board binding, attributes of cover to text transmission of leverage in the wooden boarded binding and overall attributes of structural behavior of the codex that engender preservation issues. Continued performance of the codex involves adaptation of historical prototypes to contemporary needs, efficient, skilled production of codex structures to transmit manipulations and dampen destructive forces and advocacy and demonstration of the continuing role of the codex in the context of digital delivery.

Mobility and Function - leaf attachment

Regardless of leaf quality, mobility of the pages derives from methods of leaf attachment. Across the history of the codex structure, a through-the-fold sewing that links gatherings with chains of stitches has proven an efficient approach to mobile and secure leaf attachment. Alternative structures, involving sewing onto supports such as thongs or straps or chords or tacket patches have proven equally successful but only in specific, skillful applications. Frequently supported sewing has only complicated structure, restricted mobility and not further secured the leaves. From the earliest to the most modern codices, sewing with thread alone has proven fundamental to page mobility. And the exemplary performance of equitable stitch chains can be replicated both with machine sewing and with double-fan adhesive binding.

The family of sewn board codex structures presents exemplary leaf attachment method. This family of structures dates from the earliest multi-quire books of the papyrus era through the traditions of Islamic book making and through Byzantium and the Eastern Church cultures. This historical type was eclipsed before the advent of printing, but surprisingly, the principles of sewn board structure have returned to industrial binding as is exemplified by machine sewing and the modern paperback.

The common structural features of the sewn board family of book bindings include equitable leaf attachment based on chains of stitches, cover boards also stitched to the text and a flush trim of covers and book block to the same size. The docile, pliant opening facilitates copying on a scanner including resilient performance during automated page turning. The sewn board leaf attachment facilitates both face-down and face-up image capture. This is a remarkable versatility for a 2000 year old device!

Effective leaf attachment assures fixed reference collation and bibliographic completeness as any excised or missing leaves are easily confirmed. Effective leaf attachment also assures performance of trimmed edges. Inherently non-functional leaf attachment is exemplified by machine oversewing used in the United States. Here a focus on measures of durability unrelated to mobility of leaf attachment produced a flawed structure.

Preservation Topics - leaf attachment

Application of sewn board technique to book conservation practice has been presented in detail.(4) Attributes of sewn board design relate to modern sewing, text forwarding, cover board modification, cover to text attachment and overall book action. The initial attraction of the sewn board structure is its association with unsupported, thread-only, sewing which is well adapted to rebinding texts with pre-existing sewing stations, frequently in the form of saw kerfs. The pliant, equitable stitch chains can be applied to a few or all of the various stations that each book presents. The stitch chains produce a very equitable tension from head to tail and from initial to last leaves. The flush stitch chains provide no barrier or mask to the application of adhesive linings. The resulting "smooth" back of the sewn text also enables the production of various historical appearances of either laced or cased historical binding.

Failure of leaf attachment has created preservation challenges as a consequence of loose and lost leaves. Machine oversewing as used in the United States perforates leaves leading to failures as the text paper ages. Other historical leaf attachments using whip stitching have also proven flawed while pliant mending and guarding of damaged text folds is a continuing challenge for reinforcement methods used in book conservation.

Mobility and Function - cover to text attachment

Just as important for mobility and function is cover to text attachment. This construction determines the transmission of board leverage and action of opening. In wooden board structures the transmission of the board leverage begins early in the opening motion and full opening of the board is at ninety degrees or less with the remaining needed flex occurring across the text back. Wooden board binding of northern Europe in the first half of the 16th century presents a model of effective transmission of opening and closing leverage. Here the shoulder seated wooden boards are secured with outer lacings of sewing supports and inner attachments from vellum panel linings.

The outer, over the board lacings and the covering skin transmit the closing leverage while the panel linings sealed to the inside margin of the boards transmit the opening leverage. The result is a pliant, gymnastic book which splays itself opened and clamps itself shut without damage and without conscious reader manipulation. Such a self-operating mechanism elegantly and silently supports attentive reading.

The reader awakens the book with a promising yawn of the pages and closes it with a satisfying synch and the conclusive lock of the foredge clasps. In between, the reader follows the action with graceful sweeps of the draped leaves. The reading is across an always changing arch of the page and from left to right across the contours of the two page spread. The best aspect of the book action of the 16th century wooden board prototype is its exemplary capacity to interplay with the reading experience. Either on first opening or following life long usage the wooden board binding plays a physical part in each conceptual transaction. The mind is physically positioned in the content and memory and insight both are augmented by the physical location of concepts. Fingerings to initiate and complete page turnings point to the particular expressions or precepts that are read. Manual transmission of leverage from the board covers to the text is so responsive that it embodies comprehension and conclusive acts. Later leather covered, laced construction binding tries to assume the status of the wooden board exemplar, but fails. It has all the features of the exemplar but none of the qualities of its book action. The covers fall away from the text like withered appendages and the text block is a real block that can only be broken opened. This is a sad story.

Preservation Topics - cover to text attachment

Durability of the codex is determined by its capacity to intercept and distribute sudden forces of manipulation and abuse. Book conservators who reinforce and repair weak and vulnerable structures are duly impressed with structures that toughen and protect the codex in use. Inherently non-functional cover to text attachments were produced in later eras of leather covered binding. Such binding typically provided a weak, tight joint board attachment with stiffening back lining. Board leverage was disconnected from text mobility resulting in outright failure of the cover to text attachment.

Restoration of equitable flexibility across original, repaired and newly supplied materials is a constant challenge for the preservation of codex mobility. Repairs can transmit damaging leverage to original fabric. Adhesive reinforcement can stiffen areas affected. The incentive to toughen inherently weak structures must be balanced with the risk of inducing new, more drastic failures during copying, reading and exhibition.

Case construction provides a mobile and functional cover to text approach for repair and rebinding.(5) Standard CMR (collection maintenance repair), based on case construction, can be applied across a range of historical types.(6) Case construction facilitates reinforcement of the cover separated from the text and also provides options of various casing-in methods such as the use of an endpaper flange attachment to original boards. Another example of case construction adaptability is the one-piece paper cover case construction for simple rebinding of damaged 18th century pamphlets.(7)

Another specific attribute of case construction is the pliancy of the natural hollow of the spine of the cover contrasted with tube hollow construction.(8) This influence of the spine of the cover on the opening action of the back of the text differs dramatically across the structural types and favors case construction for application to texts with weakened papers.

Mobility and Function - overall structural behavior

It is appropriate to consider overall structural behavior of the codex in a wide context, crossing all reading modes. While debate continues over comparative attributes of the scroll of Antiquity and the later codex, the more relevant contest today is between print and screen formats. An array of factors interplay the comparisons of print and screen reading. Exclusive attributes of print for presentation of books are involved. Exclusive attributes of print, as contrasted with screen based, presentation of books include legibility in the sense of immediacy of meaning, efficiencies of haptic(9) assimilation of content and physical persistence or default preservation and reliable reaccess.

Niceties of leaf attachment and cover board transmission are usually unobserved, but overall structural behavior can be more apparent to the reader. The reader’s experience of a book is paced across time and the tactile behavior of the codex accompanies all the processes of assimilation and comprehension of content. Haptic efficiencies of codex manipulation, both casual and attentive, codex response to ready portability and inter-shelvability, and physical codex transmission across time and cultures, all provide exclusive advantages.

The basis of tactile investigation prompting assimilation of concepts is deeply embedded from evolutionary experience. Primate dexterity and distinctive right and left handed manipulation prompted both neurology and evolutionary advance of the brain.(10) Conceptualizations were prompted by tactile investigations and arms leveraged actions. This learning path of the hands prompting the mind is exemplified by the codex book. Later cultural traits of personal possession of objects including actions of portability and display are well reflected by the codex. And book possession can also be shared across time and culture indicating the codex capacity for persistent existence and library accumulation. Conveying concepts in physical objects is not a paradox, but an embedded mechanism of learning.

The functionality of the codex must also be reviewed in context of inter-functionalities. Here print simulation on screen is fulfilling the role of bibliographic utility. Computer assisted key word searching, mediated reference works and hyper-textuality as well as digital technologies of connectivity all enable screen presentation of books to act as discovery tools. As such they expedite print based research and continuing print presentation.

Preservation Topics - overall structural behavior

The presence of one or multiple online sources does influence whether a book is repaired or replaced. Where screen copy has replaced paper copy, a leaf master status(11) has emerged to continue the role of the original in the context of digital delivery.

Various preservation risks and preservation advances can be associated with efforts to provide screen access to print collections. Concerns have ranged from damage or discard following imaging to the decommissioning, and eventual "Googlization", of classified order of books in their description, access and in their shelf order. As such, risks extend from loss of items to demise of library function.

Purpose built storage for print collections will arguably advance preservation as much as the advent of non-acidic papers. Sudden preservation advantages of optimal storage environment and strict security have been assured in these new archival warehouses. But the codex mechanism has found little vindication in the new era. Difficulties of imaging a codex on a flat bed scanner suggest an obsolete format rather than an up-side-down copying method. The vision of the codex cut and dis-bound for automated document feed is acceptable in the new environment. The exemplary codex structural mobilities and perhaps even the haptic codex attributes of hands prompting the mind as the reader pages through content; these attributes are now obscured. Book conservators must now advocate for the future relevance of mobility and function in the codex binding.(12)

09.05.07

EndNotes

(1) As an example of codex format innovations and functions see; Grafton, Anthony and Williams, Megan, Christianity and the Transformation of the Book, Harvard University Press, 2006.

(2) As an example of observation of physical features see; Szirmai, J. A., The Archaeology of Medieval Bookbinding, Ashgate, 1999.

(3) As an example see; Frost, Gary, “Reading by Hand, Haptic Evaluation of Artists’ Books”, Bonefolder 2/1, fall 2005. http://www.philobiblon.com/bonefolder/vol2no1contents.htm

(4) Frost, Gary, “Application of Sewn Board Technique to Book Conservation Practice”, Book and Paper Annual, American Institute for Conservation, 23/2004, pp. 31-39.

(5) Various cover to text attachment types include the following:

The UNCASED type is a text without a cover. This designation provides a type for the “paperback” or historical booklet wrapped in paper. The “cover” is only an outer sheet adhered to the back of the text. Even long stitch bindings can fit this type where a simple vellum wrapper is sewn, not adhered, to the text.

The CASED type designated the modern “hardback” binding. Here the cover to text attachment is set back away from the folds of the endpapers and the back of the text moves independently of the spine of the cover. Such cased binding emerged in eighteenth century German work with a lapped component paper cover.

The LACED type designates book bindings with the covers attached exactly at the folds of the endpapers. This is the type of the earliest multi-quire codex bindings. The construction involves setting the boards up to the folds of the endpapers, frequently with the boards secured in place by the text sewing or by lacing of sewing supports through the boards. However, such mechanical attachment is not necessary since laced attachment can be produced adhesively as with a hollow tube.

The LACED-CASE type is an interesting structure that is easily identified. The best known example is the Italian limp vellum or limp paper binding. In this type the sewing supports are laced through the cover at the position of the folds of the endpapers while the pastedowns and natural hollow operate with an attachment set back as in cased binding. A modern experiment laces the supports through the cover at a position set back from the folds of the endpapers creating an authentic laced case, but this is not a historical type.

The LACED-LACED type is a double cover binding which has not been seen for a millennium. The famous “furrow” in the edges of traditional Greek bindings may echo such an ancestral type with two separate covers since such binding is known from Coptic examples. These double boards of papyrus cartonnage were set and attached flush to the folds of the endpapers.

The LACED-CASED is a modern double cover binding with a releasing spine wrapper attached over a laced sewn board binding. It is also possible to include the conventional stationers’ spring back ledger in this type, especially in terms of book action.

(6) The CMR provides (1) text consolidation or reinforcement of the leaf attachment, (2) toughening of the cover, and (3) reinforcement of the cover to text attachment. All three types of reinforcement are needed in a good book repair. An explanation of the Collection Maintenance Repair method is posted at http://www.futureofthebook.com/stories/storyReader$648

(7) The simplicity of this type of cover and case construction text attachment suits it for project work on 18th century pamphlets. Such pamphlets were originally side stitched, with or without a paper wrapper, so the simple paper cover is appropriate to such a plain appearance. When displayed, the pamphlet is nicely framed by the powder blue squares of the paper cover. When closed and shelved, the handmade paper cover fully protects the slim pamphlet.

(8) The inflexible spine of the tube hollow, hinging at the folds of the endpapers, imposes restraint on the opening arch of the text back while case construction shifts hinging away from the folds of the endpapers toward the seat of the shoulders releasing the arch of the text back.

(9) Haptics refers to the study of touch as a mode of communication.

(10) Wilson, Frank R., The Hand: How its Use Shapes the Brain, Pantheon Books, 1998.

(11) Leaf master status emerges as print materials are stored in closed stacks where they serve as sources for copies and backup for screen surrogates confirming text authentication, completeness, scale, image quality and color. The leaf master role is also inherent in patron photocopying and document delivery services. (see also) http://www.futureofthebook.com/storiestoc/leaf

(12) An ongoing effort to advocate for the codex in the context of screen based reading is presented at http://www.futureofthebook.com/ A general bibliography relevant to the discussion is also maintained there.