Artistic Bookbinder Thrives at GPO

Deep within the warehouse-like building that is home to the Government Printing Office lies an artist. His medium is paper, his task both poetic and prosaic. Bookbinder Peter James practices the ancient task of marbling paper, which beautifies book edges while helping to preserve the pages.

In proper Dickensian or Hardyesque fashion, James began his bookbinding apprenticeship at 15, when he went to work in a loose-leaf and library bindery. While completing his apprenticeship, he also studied at the London College of Printing, where he learned how to make a book from start to finish.

“Just producing my first small book, I