Finishing (bookbinding) on:
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In 
Early codices, such as
In bookbinding
Bookbinding is the process of physically assembling a book of codex format from an ordered stack of ''signatures'', sheets of paper folded together into sections that are bound, along one edge, with a thick needle and strong thread. Cheaper, b ...
, finishing refers to the process of decorating the outside of a book, including the lettering of the spine and covers, any additional tooling
Tooling may refer to:
* Machine tools and the tooling, such as cutting tools, fixtures, and accessories, that is used on them
** Cutting tool (machining), any of hundreds of kinds of cutters
** Fixture (tool), a fixed workholding or support devic ...
, and any inlays and onlays
In dentistry, inlays and onlays are used to fill cavities, and then cemented in place in the tooth. This is an alternative to a direct restoration, made out of composite, amalgam or glass ionomer, that is built up within the mouth.Inlays and onl ...
. Finishing can also include the gilding
Gilding is a decorative technique for applying a very thin coating of gold over solid surfaces such as metal (most common), wood, porcelain, or stone. A gilded object is also described as "gilt". Where metal is gilded, the metal below was tradi ...
or other decoration of the edges of the book's pages.
Early codices, such as Coptic binding
Coptic binding or Coptic sewing comprises methods of bookbinding employed by early Christians in Egypt, the Copts, and used from as early as the 2nd century AD to the 11th century.It is sometimes claimed that the Coptic binding, and thus the weste ...
s, had relatively simple finishing, including blind tooling and leather strips woven through covering material.
In traditional bookbinding, finishing is done by hand, and is a highly skilled process. Until the second half of the 20th century, finishing was largely performed by men who specialized in gilding; they would receive the book after the process of sewing and covering the book, known as forwarding, was complete.
In the broadest sense, any book with decoration other than its covering material (such as a title) can be considered finished, though the term is usually applied only to books that have been decorated extensively by hand.
References
Bookbinding Book arts {{book-art-stub