Bound/Unbound.

Bookbinding; Hand presses; History of the book; Franklin, Benjamin, 1706-1790; Potts, Stephen; History of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Booksellers & bookselling; Eighteenth century; Colonial Pennsylvania, ca. 1600-1775

United Kingdom; United States

The author considers the history of the book in the U.S. using hand-powered printing presses, focusing particularly on how the printed sheets became folded, sewed, collated and bound to become book - embracing the duality of bound/unbound. The process of creating both bound and unbound books is detailed. The interrelationship between printers, binders, publishers, and booksellers both in the U.S. and Great Britain is explored. It explores the minutes of polyglot Benjamin Franklin's Library Company of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and their business with bookbinder Stephen Potts.