Hands: A Dublin Bookbinder

RTÉ documentary series exploring the craft traditions of Ireland. hands.ie/
Narrated by historian Maurice Craig. Filmed in 1981. antiquarianbook...

[@brianogrady1638]

For all who are wondering , this company still exists in Dublin, the name changed back in 1981 to Antiquarian Bookcrafts and moved to Marlay Park, we moved again in 2013 to Ballymount industrial estate in Dublin, my father is in the video, Cathal O' Grady, I have continued on my father and grandfathers profession at Antiquarian Bookcrafts where we still repair and restore books just like in the video.

[@jasborb]

This comment should be pinned. Brilliant that you are still going strong.

[@J_Gamble]

So glad to hear that! I was trained up in the old methods of letterpress printing. It kills me to see how younger people do it these days. So much of the craft is lost! But here and there you'll find someone, usually older, using all the old brilliant techniques. Like those shown here. Anyway. Good wishes to you from Northern California.

[@sammyjo8109]

@@jasborb I was just thinking that same thing: Needs pinned.

[@emilytsialos5358]

That is the best news I've heard for quite awhile! All success to you and for all of your endeavors.

[@jackmaher4245]

My Dad is a trained Bookbinder but hasn't worked as such for many years, if you are ever looking for more staff with experience, even just for part time work, I think he genuinely misses the work.

[@somebnnuy]

Ahh yes, 5 AM, the perfect time to watch a video about Dublin bookbinding.

[@ihnanna849]

My father was a master bookbinder for nearly 43 years. Sadly, he passed away almost 6 years ago. However, the continuity of the craft has been assured. My husband was my father’s apprentice. My husband is now the master bookbinder. I don’t know if the family business will survive this coronavirus. If it doesn’t, I know he will continue it as a hobby. This video brought back memories of helping in the bookbindery as I grew up. The pounding sounds and the smell of glues, machine oil, and leather is unforgettable. My main job was working with the ludlow machine and stamping. However, I had my hand before in every aspect of putting a book together. My interests diverged from bookbinding into healthcare (mainly from collating medical journals for years lol). I’m a registered nurse, now.

[@janieperez5548]

This is so intresting, sounds like wonderful childhood memories. Glad your husband learned the trait and continues the work. Would love to learn more and carry out this great tradition.

[@archkull]

I hope your business survives the pandemic. The art of bookbinding has become so underappreciated.

[@inkland2003]

please don't quit! the tradition is so precious!

[@davetobias3788]

If you are based in the US and your husband is looking for projects, I may have a few... Let me know - [e-mail]

[@zaraFORSYTH]

I'm pretty sure, there are people willing to get their hands on handmade books. Perhaps a journal would be great to sell online.

[@sangwooshin2970]

I just learned that the librarian at 14:37 recently passed away in August 2021. Kudos to her lifelong dedication to preserving the heritage of mankind. Rest in peace.

[@parkavenue6970]

What happened? It was only 5 years ago right? She looks healthy.

[@peterobara6479]

@@parkavenue6970 ...the film was made in 1981....so she died 40 years later

[@rykerhasyounow]

Sure, she was probably lovely, but why did you feel the need to make it something it's not?

[@stephhhie17]

@@rykerhasyounow Make what into something it's not?

[@marybarratt2649]

R.I.P. Muriel. Such an interesting job she had and she was very knowledgeable.

[@NSYresearch]

Twenty two minutes of sheer joy to watch. Craftsmen and craftswomen at their best.

[@Antipodean33]

There's something comforting about owning books, especially older ones.

[@SpiritBear12]

Indeed, a Kindle doesn't quite cut it. It's hard to feel cozy or even nostalgic when reading something off of a lit screen. I like books, no batteries or electricity needed. I love to go into a book store and get hit in the nose by the smell of all that paper, ink and glue. LOL

[@MrUnit731]

@@SpiritBear12 I understand what you mean ✌️ I buy lots of books on Kindle, but the best ones, I buy "for real". I read good books several times. Just like I play good CDs more than once.

[@a_pompom]

I guess we don't really own them, we just take care of them for a while.

[@ukiyoutsusemi5372]

@@a_pompom this is so profound!

[@zaraFORSYTH]

I wonder why I buy so many without completing them ever

[@bobbertbobby3975]

Amazing. Simply Amazing to watch. Truely art.

[@carriebtc]

As a book collector, I do appreciate the art and craftsmanship behind precious old books. Sadly every day it is more difficult to find qualified craftsmen who can do the necessary repairs of old books or the binding of new ones. A beautiful art that is rapidly disappearing. Great video, but with a sad and melancholic aftertaste. Cheers

[@lydiajackson6741]

I'm trying my best to learn how to do bookbinding. I've found that my friend's mom does it, and she taught me the flat back binding method. Regardless of the fact that supplies can be rare and expensive and I can't find a class to teach me how to properly prepare traditional books, I'm still looking. The art isn't dead, not yet.

[@carriebtc]

Good luck @@lydiajackson6741. Great learnings and work. Cheers

[@grnsouth1204]

Fret not, there are still some of us who practice the art. And there are quite a few university programs dedicated to papermaking and book binding. And more than a few private institutions.

[@imanpoco5654]

Indeed such a beautiful art. I really wish it last . Sir can you make a video of your collection please, if you would like so of course

[@amandaw26475]

@@grnsouth1204 All of which require a degree for entry. :(

[@simongee8928]

I never tire of watching true artisans at their crafts. Years of learning goes into so many skills, all worked in such an apparently relaxed manner.

[@thewasatch208]

Don't know how I got here but I couldn't stop watching... This was awesome!

[@sallyskellington3024]

Same here, three years later.

[@nelbraudo-441]

Hell Fgkn Yeah! 🤣👏🏻

[@CosmiaNebula]

I'm here because I was reading Jorge Borges' story The Aleph and got confused about what he meant by "uncut books".

[@NickGreyden]

KZbin has a fascinating collection of master craftsmen plying their trade. I would also recommend Baumgartner Restoration. He cleans and restores old paintings and it is amazing to watch him work and listen to what he is doing. Very "Bob Ross-eqsue". I would suggest The Conservation of The Assassination of Archimedes Narrated Version to start with.

[@kennylong7281]

I am speechless! What a beautiful craft! This is real valuable work, and cultural ware. These books are certainly a national treasure of Ireland, but also a treasure for all Europe!

[@knutknutsen5610]

I am so impressed that there are still people hand crafting like this. May you all live to be honored!

[@grammgale58]

I can watch this for hours! Thank you for posting! My mother and my niece went to Ireland for my mother's 70th birthday! She loved it! They spent a night in a castle, too! She died a few years ago at 91.

[@littlebrookreader949]

Wow. I love this. I am so impressed with this degree of beauty and excellence! And the lady who’s been there since age 14! Thank you for this showing these wonderful people to us. I am so grateful! Love and best wishes from Mississippi. ❤️

[@chemicalrecoveryfellowship1721]

I purchased the whole set of Hands documentaries. They are wonderfully made and reminiscent of a time gone by. I highly recommend the set.

[@I_leave_mean_comments]

21:15 He's working on Photius's famous "Bibliotheca" aka, "the Myriobiblon" or "the Ten-Thousand Books". Photius was basically the first book reviewer. In that book are reviews of something like 300 different books he read in his lifetime. Most of them have been lost and are totally unknown today. It's a really important book from the 9th century.

[@kasvinimuniandy4178]

wow

[@blackie75]

That's amazing, thanks for the info.

[@futjakot9075]

commeting so i can come back later & search for the book

[@pvtmalo3217]

@@futjakot9075 Did you find it?

[@mrenglishjawa]

I raise my glass to the art shown here and the artisans at work . This is an art now passed from the general world, but for the few who carry its torch you have my un-dieing respect, as do all those that maintain the crafts of our past to carry such art forward to the times when mankind will once again need its function and form.

[@dixieboy5689]

I Loved the gold leafing part. Incredible. great video all the way!! Thanks

[@fortbumper]

This is absolutely magnificent! Such attention, detail, so much artistry!

[@dalepres1]

Being a typical, modern (even if old) man today, I am impatient, watching most videos at 1.5 or 2.0 speed, looking for very short videos that make me an Internet expert in any topic in under 5 minutes. This video was the only video I have ever watched, honestly, where I kept mousing over to see how long was left, not because I wanted to hurry to the end but because I didn't want the end to come. This is a fantastic video; it's so great to watch true artisans at work.

[@neilsanghvi5229]

I have always dismissed the gold filigree and rich leather spines on the few eighteenth and early nineteenth century books I possess, valuing only the contribution of the text to my historical research. This documentary has made me examine the bookbinding for the first time, and begun to appreciate the craftsmanship that went into them, even if they don't match that of the Dublin and Paris traditions. Thank you for posting this and adding a value to my enjoyment of these books I never knew I needed.

[@Limeysack]

That was absolutely FASCINATING!!!! They don't make documentaries like this anymore (or books either for that matter!) Thank you for the upload.

[@judyharford5048]

This brings back wonderful memories of my childhood as my father was a bookbinder. I can remember watching him sometimes as he worked. I still have a small container gold leaf that was his that he'd saved when not all the leaf was used in a project.

[@unseelie63]

Sadly,the company no longer exists.I looked it up after watching this.Though one can hope that this fine art is continuing in a different establishment.I hate to see these old and beautiful craft traditions dying out.

[@alfred.clement]

my thoughts exactly

[@susannasharrock9253]

I have the same thoughts, I decided to take up book binding as a hobby on the side. But I hope to do it for my books to give my family special editions

[@Cupida75]

I have learned to be an Offset-Printer from the year 1991- 1994 and a Book binder in the years from 1994 - 1996. I'm living near the City of Mainz in Germany. There is a Museum about Printing and the Inventor of the printing with moveable letters, Johannes Gutenberg. On some days there are Events for kids where they could see and learn about printing and book binding when old Masters show their works of art. Sadly in our digital time a lot of books are only in bits and bites to read. But also a lot of people love to have a physical book in their hands. And I also love to write my stories first on paper before I tip it into the PC. :)

[@szebike]

Though I agree that the oldschool traditional way is dying out bookbinding itself won't so don't worry about it! I myself do it as a hobby and my goal is to create a real "Codex" grade book that even could rival this excellent Dublin book binding quality [I mainly do 2D art so I can fill it with that in a very good way] I already can do "standart" books in a bookshop quality. The only difference would be the cost and time to make it because as a layman I lack the awesome machinery and routine of those professionals which will be lost in time (or at least some machienes preserved in a museum).But if you look around for bookbinding tutorials you will see that there are many people out there still holding that awesome tradition up.

[@chsovi7164]

Many people on Etsy do traditional bookbinding as a hobby

[@tanyacavner3501]

I worked in a shop like this for many years. It's a beautiful craft.

[@vixis]

Tanya Cavner it would be my dream job

[@cadetmouse]

Hands is a real great series of short films. I have been watching many recently and they are all wonderful and interesting. This one was particular fabulous. Tradition and skill within all trades should never best lost forever, and only hands do it better than anything else.

[@kraftyiam]

Absolutely astounding to watch. Perfection, beauty, and talent at its best. Thank you so much for posting.

[@mafoster4393]

I am a junk journal maker and paper crafter. Never did I have a clue of this process. I cannot believe how interesting this was for me, and how much I now appreciate and admire the entire process. Simply unbelievable craftsmanship. Thank you so much for sharing this with the world.

[@MrUnit731]

I was an apprentice at a bookbinding shop in the 80's but I couldn't find any steady job with it. But I have some books that I have made myself. And I'm of course not even close to these people :)

[@FruitMuff1n]

I have never been so entranced by a documentary series. Thanks for sharing this documentary series with us.

[@cosmicmauve]

I love watching people who work in "detail". I can't believe the amount of different tools that are used. This was fascinating.

[@jeanhawken4482]

I never tire of viewing this old clip. Such a joy

[@Tantive]

"...And so the continuity of the craft is insured." I'm glad if this is the case.

[@headgroundsman1650]

assured

[@kbgexplores]

unfortunately this documentary series is probably 35-40 years old so alot of these crafts have progressed 40 years closer to death.

[@colinmurphy2214]

HEAD GROUNDSMAN ensured

[@iikwoodii5565]

@@kbgexplores I looked this particular shop up. It's still there and seemingly doing well.

[@essoftoleressia]

@@iikwoodii5565 The bindery shown in the video? It doesn't exist any more. :(

[@lorenawr5582]

SOOOO MUCH BEAUTY!!! And all done by hand absolutely no computers. It is just magical that kind of skill! Just magical!!!

[@bretdouglas9407]

So nice to visit a time when people cared about things like this

[@AnnaTalks-videos]

I found this so relaxing to watch - I wish craftspeople were as respected, and as numerous, today as they were then

[@stillwater62]

The skill, artistry, and knowledge these craftsmen, and craftswomen possess are almost irreplaceable and should be considered national treasuries. This is an art form that is almost gone from existence. The Victorian Era had the most detailed and beautiful forms in architecture, clothing, art, furniture, books, and music. Oh, how I wish we could recapture those qualities again.

[@SherryRector]

Fabulous watching this. I’ve a love for old books and found this restoration enticing.

[@Gunzee]

I'm so glad this bookbinders is still in business and John still there. So nice at the start they gave the exact address which is within the first page Google results. I remember working in old street London, on the way there through Mount Pleasant there was a very old looking binders. I mean the place looked like it hasn't been cleaned since the1920s/30s. I went in and the guy looked just as old and we talked, I offered to help him clean and restore and do general diy in turn for learning to bind. I was set to to two days a week Sunday and Monday, 5 hours each day. Each day I would take an hour doing what he needed, mainly cleaning and installing electrical features and rewiring. So 8 hours a week which I was really excited to do, especially from someone with so much experience. He was over 70 and had learned his craft from childhood. I arrive on Sunday at 11am to no answer, I knock and knock and he answers really angry and smelling badly of booze. He'd forgotten our talk and thought I was running a scam, he was shouting something about calling the police. Really wish he wasn't so unstable because the few times I passed by I really wanted to ask again

[@JohnSmith-tr9us]

Seems like it's not there anymore, damn shame.

[@chippyboy35]

It's probably a Nigerian wig shop now.

[@dtouey]

@Ronald Wilson Always with the racism.

[@BronzeAgeSwords]

what a gold mine of films thank you

[@donloughrey1615]

Thank you for posting this. This is satisfying in so many ways: historic preservation, art, expert craftsmanship, love of books and more. The librarian at 14:35 seems to me to be much more than a librarian( no disrespect to librarians, their work goes unsung), I would also call her her a curator, and I thank her for that. Also , the young woman at 0:52 , to have started this craft at fourteen and to stay with it is amazing. With young people like her I feel comfortable that after I am gone the world might just be ok.

[@terri241]

Magnificent. What a joy to behold the work of such highly skilled conservators! Thank you to everyone who had a part in producing this superb video record.

[@cheaneysaddles]

Great to see these craftsman at work repairing very delicate books.

[@Warrendoe]

I find more and more I turn away from watching regular TV , to watching documentaries on KZbin;I can find programs on more subjects than I can imagine each one packed with learning. Thank you

[@nestorlovesguitar]

I enjoyed this better than the last 10 movies I've seen - no joke. Such wonderful art, such mastery!

[@jamesaritchie1]

I agree completely.

[@StuffUCanMake]

The craftsmanship is out of this world!!

[@cacauldr]

What a fascinating watch, and beautifully filmed!

[@doberman1ism]

Ever since I was a child I have enjoyed the artistry of these type of lovely books. I have been known to purchase old books just because of their binding! Then I put them on display in my house so I can enjoy them. Thank you for this most informative and interesting video presentation. I am glad that the business continues to thrive in this day and age of computer technology.

[@MasTArrrRR]

What a treat. Thanks for sharing. Pure talent at its rawest form. Incredibly amazing to watch. Thank you again.

[@B30pt87]

Amazing how beautiful the books look after restoration.

[@acmebrainsurgery]

The work done by these highly skilled artisans is a real treat to watch. 💗📖

[@mollynakamori]

Thank you so much. I have been looking for the Hands series for about the last 30 years!

[@zogzog1063]

Absolutely magnificent!! As admirable as a Bach Concerto. (Nice presentation too from Maurice Craig).

[@cloerainflower]

I came here by accident, but now I’m hooked. I never knew bookbinding was such an amazing craft!

[@ThatGirlWithTheCoffee]

My grandmother and 3 great aunts were all bok binders, and used to rebind my mother's school books and copies for her every year. My grandmother met my grandfather, a printer, in the gap between the printing room and the binding room of their press in Dublin city centre- the name escapes me, and both of them have died, so unable to ask- but he went on to work with the National Print Museum, which I wish would have more about the binding side of the press!

[@writeract2]

This is an unbelievable treasure - thank you sooo much. Looking at the content of your channel - unbelievable - it will bring back to humanness.

[@vongillan]

This video, a stiff double malt, and hot bath just saved me from a heartattack. Possibly just anxiety

[@jessebillett]

Thanks very much for uploading this fascinating programme. I really enjoyed it. The makers of older TV shows could still assume that viewers had intelligent interests and grown-up attention spans! My "pandemic project" was actually to learn some basic bookbinding skills. If nothing else, the experience taught me the real cost and value of handmade bindings. Our modern consumer culture expects things to be cheap and available instantly. If we're ever to attain a "sustainable" way of life, we'll have to get used to paying more and owning less-and therefore also choosing to own only those things that will really last.

[@NoosaHeads]

Absolutely wonderful. Mesmerising craftsmanship.

[@tommcclelland119]

It’s amazing to see this artful work. The old ways are fascinating to me. Even though I’m 2 generations removed from my ancestral homeland in Ireland, I’m very thankful to reconnect to the old ways….thank you from the Rocky Mountains of Colorado.

[@juliejk4603]

Awesome... I will never look at a book in the same way again. What a joy to go to work doing something like that 😀

[@quiesty99]

Can't see if anyone else noticed this but the timing of the end of the music and the guillotine blade around the 7 minute mark is genius editing. Whoever did this, if it were done on purpose, was ahead of their time!

[@edvardgrube668]

ending with a shot of well worked, well trained and well experienced hands... love it

[@alitlweird]

I appreciate how lovingly these books are handled.

[@BobbyIronsights]

These "Hands" documentaries are wonderful. Thank you very much for the upload!

[@Russell-1]

If you enjoy them they are available on DVD from the makers - Sally Shaw-Smith & her husband.

[@miatfitz]

Thank you for uploading this... I visited John's business many times over the years. Was so sad to hear he passed away last year. He had some lovely old books in his home many rebound by himself. I'm so glad his business is still going.

[@humblehombre9904]

Now this is true craftsmanship and tradition! Such important and beautiful workmanship is priceless. I would love to visit Ireland and see this very shop. What a true honour this would. Warm regards from Canada. Just pure magic.

[@ATL_Transparency_News]

i love watching a skilled hand, very nice. these skills are a thing of the past and that is a big loss. it is just simply amazing work

[@pixiesmate]

Old skills performed brilliantly are a joy to watch. Thank you for sharing

[@JeghedderThomas]

Beautiful craft. I've tried my hand at bookbinding but this is at a level so far above anything I've ever accomplished, it leaves me humbled and amazed. Thanks for sharing.

[@ismann9148]

Excellent video. Hopefully this will allow the retention of great book binding.

[@anthonyjesus6151]

Bloody hell! I didn't think I would enjoy this as much as I did!! Thanks for posting.

[@cluxseltoot]

What a truly wonderful video - a big thank you to whomever was responsible for sharing these skills and commissioning the video.

[@TiborRoussou]

The attention to detail is astounding. A true art!

[@paulbroderick8438]

Such patience and dedication. Totally spellbinding! Thank you.

[@Thepourdeuxchanson]

What a beautiful craft to be master, or mistress, of. Just lovely!

[@MauriceBlok]

Absolutely great! Breathtaking documentary

[@drvonschwartz]

The workmanship that went into this is absolutely amazing and deserving of respect. However, I can't say I like the way the cover looks.

[@408Magenta]

Superb skills. Astounding accuracy. A true work of art by a team of fine craft persons. The outcome of a well bound book using all these wonderful techniques and tools never fails to excite me. From the style and fashion, this would seem to have been done during the 60s or early 70s. A great video and thank you very much for uploading it.

[@Rosewingify]

I was thinking early seventies too, but it says MCMLXXXI at the end of the credits, which would be 1981 if you assume they're roman numerals.

[@hugojames85]

It's amazing how these extremely intricate skills can be made to look easy to the point of appearing slightly slapdash in the hands of experts: and yet the end result is always a masterpiece.

[@Norfolk250]

Could watch this series every day for the rest of my life

[@filtonkingswood]

I have absolutely no idea how I arrived at this presentation but it was absolutely fascinating.

[@scottcudahy8200]

An amazing work of art. Very much appreciate you sharing this documentary. Thanks!

[@alanwann9318]

I was spellbound watching this! More please

[@clonmore819]

Fantastic skills - hard to imagine the work being done in this recording will with good fortune last 300 plus years....

[@rogerdavis7770]

Master Crafts people and artists in their own right. The young lady has such beautiful strong hands. There is nothing like a hand crafted book IMHO.

[@JPoulAndersson]

This is more than craftsmanship, pure artistry imo!

[@jackryder-sw9rk]

As a secondhand and antiquarian bookseller This was one of the most interesting and satisfying videos I have ever seen.

[@bbcisrubbish]

Beautifully presented. Far superior to anything the BBC has to offer, or could create, certainly these days, when they have no idea of presentation. Could you imagine this beautiful programme with a violin scraping away on just two notes or equally a piano jingle jangle? A long time ago I saw a "HANDS" series which included making a dray cart wheel and one making a silver tea pot. Beautiful presentation. Thank you.

[@helenfalk4255]

So nice and interesting to look at. Even the music was good. What skills they all have. Thank you for making me a good start on my friday morning here in Sweden.

[@r.mercado9737]

Beautifully done! Exquisitely performed.

[@YaelSharon3410]

What a beautiful craft! I wish this type of method was desired and appreciated by the masses these days. Great video!

[@heidisommer6078]

90% der Menschheit sind geldgeile Vollidioten.

[@cdpgbc-mw2kz]

Fascinating. Thanks for uploading.

[@deborahdarling1799]

Oh if there was a profession I could have been born to it would be this. I positively love watching the process and I love the almost Zen quality of this type of creating! Bravo! Did I mention the smell of books is the greatest fragrance there is? Such preservation techniques! Wow

[@humanconnection5646]

Loved it nothing can replace the beauty of a hand bound book...

[@robertwalker5491]

What a very interesting programme. Very well presented. Nice to take a break from modernism and relax watching an ancient craft unfold. Thank you

[@bristolfashion4421]

Awsome skills and techniques - thanks ever so for making the video available. Fascinating! :-) Love the section where Des and Muriel discuss the details of some special book restoration (14:53) Bless them and their patience and attention to detail. Where would we be without folks like these ?? History in the making.

[@mirkhwand]

I agree 100%

[@MrJdsenior]

Exquisite workmanship and incredible knowledge and craftsmanship! The result is truly art.

[@jannlavalley686]

Incredibly informative - thank you for making this available.

[@yox465]

My late father-in-law was born in Dublin and told me his family were bookbinders and goldsmiths for generations. The family name was Fitzpatrick and they lived at Riddall's Row behind the post office. I have a hammer he gave me with a broad head that matches the one used in the video for flattening the cords. Who knew?