secret Belgian binding

OAB Definition

book with covers that are laced to a loose spine piece with thick thread. The spine is only held in place by this lacing. Individual signatures or a prepared text block, which is sewn on tapes, are attached to the spine piece with secondary sewing.

The structure is called the criss-cross binding by its inventor, Belgian binder, Anne Goy. The term “Secret Belgian Binding” was coined by Hedi Kyle when she popularized the structure, referring to the little she knew of the binding’s origins.

Linked Terms