15 JANUARY 1887, Page 14

BOOKBINDING.

ire TEE EDITOR OF THE " SPECTATOR.") SIR,—In reply to Mr. Wilson, allow me to refer him to the statement made by Mr. Zaehnsdorf at the Library Conference on September 30th. After complaining that books were not bound as efficiently as in former days, and that the quality of our paper was not so good, facts which I suppose no one will contest, Mr. Zaehnsdorf—I quote from the Times' report- " exposed some tricks of the trade by producing specimens of the work generally turned out by bookbinders. He showed a specimen where the book was not sewn, but simply cut across the back and glued, with thread laid across to make it appear

as if it were really sewn !"—I am, Sir, &c. J. D.