TECHNIQUE
Each of the 3 bindings are bound in various ways. There are 2 fine bindings and one case binding. They are all sewn with an unsupported link stitch with secondary sewing through a Fraynot spine lining.
The case binding (the design with the large hands) - Hand dyed natural goatskin; offset relief printing, black line work and foil hand finishing. Hand dyed edges. Single core silk end bands. Hand printed end papers. Finished with a shellac based bookbinding varnish. The book comes with a leather entry slip case.
The two fine bindings: Double core silk end bands. Hand dyed edges. Hand dyed natural goatskin with offset relief printing and multiple onlays. Foil tooling. Leather joints. Painted and printed end papers and edge to edge doublures. Finished with a shellac based bookbinding varnish. Both housed in drop back boxes.
DESIGN
The 3 text blocks contain 26 original printed illustrations of the British Sign Language alphabet by Nicky Oliver. Each illustration was made into a zinc dye and printed using an 8 x 5 Adana Printing machine onto Zerkal White paper 145gsm. Handset in 18 point Times italic and 12 point Times.
I wanted to keep the “hand theme” running throughout the books, so hand designs, in various sizes, were used for each volume.
The story behind these books: when I was about 11 years old I was on holiday in Ireland with my family. I was a bit bored. My Nana had a tea towel with pictures of the British Sign Language alphabet on it. I spent the entire holiday learning all of the signs and it has stayed with me ever since.
