bookblock

The bookblock refers to the main body of a book, consisting of all the printed pages that have been folded, gathered, and usually sewn or glued together. It is the core content of the book, distinct from the cover, endpapers, or any supplementary materials. The process of creating the bookblock involves printing the text and images onto sheets of paper, which are then folded to create signatures. These signatures are then collated in the correct order. The next step is to bind these signatures together, either through sewing or adhesive methods, to form a solid block. This block is then trimmed to its final size. The quality and construction of the bookblock are crucial to the durability and aesthetic appeal of the finished book. Different binding techniques, such as Smyth sewing or perfect binding, result in bookblocks with varying levels of flexibility and longevity. The term is commonly used in the printing and bookbinding industries to describe this essential component of a book's physical structure.