Budget Range: “Buckram” cotton cloth with a water resistant (acrylic) coating. It offers strength and durability and is available in a variety of shades. This material was formally known as “Rexine”; which is a registered trademark of an artificial leather cloth fabric, produced in the United Kingdom by Rexine Ltd. It was made of cloth surfaced with a mixture of cellulose nitrate, camphor oil, pigment and alcohol, embossed to look like leather.

It has been used in bookbinding for more than 60 years but also for upholstery coverings and interiors of motor vehicles produced by British car manufacturers beginning in the 1920s. It was also used by the British Motor Corporation in the 1960s and 70s, particularly as a covering for 'crash padding' on dashboards and doors. 

The author George Orwell, writing in his wartime diary on April 29, 1942, reported on his visit to the British House of Lords: "Everything had a somewhat mangy look. Red rexine cushions on the benches - I could swear they used to be red plush at one time."  

A variety of shades are available off the shelf. Cheaper alternatives are available to suit all budgets.

MID-RANGE: “Wintan” ® is made from 85% genuine leather fibres from waste leather retrieved from tanneries and converted into bonded leather on rolls.

It looks; smells and feels like genuine leather and designed for high quality leather goods, stationary, book binding and packaging.  Its luxury feel and finish makes it ideal for when quality will be appreciated. 

The perfect choice to add some cost effective luxury .  

A  limited variety of shades are available off the shelf. 

DELUXE-RANGE: "Karawan " is a pure genuine leather goat skin. Originally used on all shoes, on ledgers, account books and furniture.

It is carefully produced with exceptional suppleness and attractive grain qualities. 

Various textures, natural, smooth, medieval, antique, embossed, glazed, unglazed, and “alum tawed” (tanned).   The skin is bleached and dyed to suit. 

Also available calf, “bovin” (buffalo, cow/ox like cattle) and pig skins which are pure vegetable tanned. The tanned outer layer is split from a skin and is known as a “skiver”. 

The price reflects commitment to the art of book binding and rare book conservation. 

BOARDS:  Hard backs are created from high quality and extremely dense grey mill boards. 

I use 3mm thick as standard but can offer 5mm for improved durability and strength.

If weight is important I use 1mm boards to provide a semi-hard back.

Padded foam boards are popular to give that soft tactile cover for albums.