I have wanted to learn the history behind the different types of bookbinding stitches that I use on a regular basis. This desire is based in my wanting to grow my knowledge of where these stitches originated, how they came to be, who first used them, what they are, etc. The information will be basic and simple, but hopfully informative. So here is the first in a series (The next will probably come out next year!), exploring the Coptic Stitch.
A Coptic sewn book is a method of bookbinding that comprises of sewing multiple signatures together along the spine with a chain link stitch. The separate front and back covers are stitched together along with the signatures to create an exposed, open spine binding.
The coptic binding method originated in Egypt and came into use around 2 AD. It is still in use today. The first people to employ this method of binding were the early Egyptian Christians, or Copts.
The Copts were a people descended from pre-Islamic Egyptians. They spoke a form of Egyptian which was known as Coptic, and were identified by the Greek term Aigyptios, which in Arabic is qibṭ and Westernized as copt. Later in history Egyptian Muslims stopped using the term coptic to refer to themselves, the word came to denote the Christian minority in Egypt. Today the Coptic Orthodox Christian church is still comprised of this ancient ethnoreligious minority group and is the largest Christian denomination in North Africa, Egypt and the Middle East.
The coptic binding is known as the first true codex. Codices are books made up of multiple signatures that have exposed spines, rather than the more Western, or European, tradition of sewing cords along the spine then encasing the spine so it is covered.
The covers of the original coptic bound books were made of layers of papyrus, but by the 4th century wooden boards were also used. Leather was also used as a cover material around that same time and became the precursor to many decorated Western leather bindings.
The Coptic binding is still in use today, as it is a simple and easy-to-learn form of multi-signature exposed spine binding.
There are variations on the coptic stitch, such as using paired needles for each set of sewing holes. That stitch is a little more advanced than the basic stitch, but it results in a beautiful herringbone pattern across the spine, especially if you use contrasting threads.
In my current bookbinding practice I cover two sturdy bookbinders board, called Davey Board, with handmade bookcloth for the front and back covers, then use white sheets of 24lbs/90gsm weight paper for the signatures and bind using either the coptic stitch (As pictured in this post), or one of several other stitches in my repertoire.
I enjoy using the coptic stitch as it is rhythmic, meditative and simple and produces really lovely results.
A selection of my handbound journals, including coptic bound ones, are listed for sale on Etsy and can be found at this link.
I hope you have enjoyed this simple history of the coptic stitch. 🙂
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