Japanese Papers Coming Soon

American Book Arts has plans to offer limited edition coptic journals covered with specialty Japanese papers, both Chiyogami, also referred to as Yuzen, and Katazome-shi, also referred to as Wazome, which are exceptionally beautiful and durable papers particularly suited to bookbinding.

What's the difference between Chiyogami and Katazome-shi? Chiyogami is screenprinted on a base paper made of kozo and sulphite. Every color is a layer silkscreened onto the paper, and in most cases these papers have at four or five colors. Katazome-shi, based on traditional kimono printing, is stencilled onto a kozo base paper by hand, a time consuming process that produces intense colors and stunning patterns.

You can read up these gorgeous papers and browse them online at the Japanese Paper Place. If you find something you want that ABA does not have in stock, we take custom orders contingent upon paper availability. Just contact me at claire@americanbookarts.com with the paper number (located under the sample image, ex. "732C"), desired number of books, and your contact information. There is a minimum order of three books, $35 each, but you can mix and match papers to your heart's content--up to one kind of paper per book.

What is a coptic journal?

A coptic journal is a blank book bound by a coptic stitch, a binding technique that dates to the 2nd century AD. Traditionally, these books were made with wooden covers. ABA uses Davey Red Label Binder's Board, which sets the standard for fine binding, and covers it with durable decorative papers using conservation-grade adhesive. Then we take one long piece waxed thread and sew the book together. For more information concerning the history of coptic binding, visit this wiki.

The most unique feature of a coptic journal is that it can be opened completely flat without damaging the spine, which eliminates the need to fight with a book that wants to close when you need it to stay open. Ring-bound solutions will lie flat, but use tends to deform the rings so that such bindings become difficult to handle. Our journals, stitched with the finest waxed Irish linen thread, are flexible, durable, and will not deform over time.

Welcome to American Book Arts

American Book Arts originated when I decided to extend the reach of modern book arts by producing affordable, high-quality coptic journals for everyone.

These books can be used as notebooks, diaries, recipe books, personal gifts, business gifts, writer's journals, artist's journals, scrapbooks, memory books, guest registries, and more. If it can be done with a blank book, my journals will fit the task. If you are looking for a special gift for someone who has something to say, these journals have an enormous range in taste and selection, and if you have a particular cover paper you want or a specific need, I take commissions.

Book arts have, since the invention of modern machine-intensive printing and binding techniques, become a niche. Libraries, universities, select artists, and patrons with the know-how to discover fine binders and book artists know about book arts, but what about the rest of the population? Hand sewn books take more labor than modern means of production, but there is nothing else on the market that can imitate the strength and beauty of a coptic binding.