There is a place in Boston that seems to belong to the last century, with one difference: a computer on the manager’s desk. It’s Harcourt Bindery, which claims to be the oldest company in the United States that binds books only by hand, and some of the tools used by the craftsmen are as old as the company itself. The current owner is a long-time customer of the bindery.
Craftsmanship
Charlestown is the oldest neighborhood in Boston. It’s home to Harcourt Bindery, a 125-year-old bookbinding company that does its work entirely by hand. There are no robots and no artificial intelligence, the only modern technological device is the computer on manager Robert DeCristoforo’s desk. The artisan company is exclusively engaged in hand-binding fine books, and Its customers include libraries, book retailers, and collectors. Harcourt only uses leather and thread, adhesives, and acid-free paper of the highest quality. The bookbindery also produces cardboard boxes (covered in leather or fabric), which are very similar to the books they are designed to store and protect. Harcourt employs only six people and is struggling to hire new staff.
Attention to detail
The Boston Globe recounts life inside the bookbinding workshop, focusing on the role of Frank Jones (63), who is responsible for choosing the right leather for each book. He has to find it in the warehouse among the different types available (calf, pig, goat, sheep, kangaroo), also assessing its texture and color. The leather must not only be cut to the correct size, but also carefully thinned along the joints of the book so that it can be properly closed. This operation requires care and skill in handling a sharp knife to cut thin layers from the back of the leather without reaching the grain.
One mistake and the leather is ruined. Since 2022, the owner of Harcourt Bindery has been Matthew Raptis, a lover of rare books who in 2000 launched Raptis Rare Books, a rare book business for collectors. Mr. Raptis would buy books, have them bound by Harcourt, and then resell them. Ten years ago, he moved the company to Palm Beach, Florida, where he opened a physical store. The business developed well and in 2022 decided to take over his long-standing supplier. His business remains the best customer for the old bookbinding company.
Photo by Harcourt Bindery
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