To help commemorate this event and to formally record HRH The Princess Royal as the first visitor to the new headquarters we were commissioned to provide a new visitors book for the society. In addition we were delighted to be asked to supply a journal which was to be presented to Her Royal Highness as a token of the society's gratitude for her carrying out the opening ceremony.
After discussion it was decided that the journal should take the same form in colour and design as the visitors book that had already been bound. A trip to J.Hewit & Sons in Edinburgh, provided us with a beautiful skin of dark blue goatskin that would be perfect for the cover.
The paper for the text block was chosen from our range of good quality handmade paper. Folded into A4 sections and sewn on linen tapes the text block was then glued up and lined with linen to add strength.
With only a few days till the presentation date, and working under a very tight deadline, the text block was handed over to Mr Jim Sloss, calligrapher, for the title page to be handwritten. Jim has worked on many projects in the past and we were confident that what he would produce would be perfect for the occasion.
Sure enough, only 3 days later the text block was back and with a title page that was a thing of beauty.
The cover was then marked up for blocking in silver with both the Society's logo and mission statement. A delicate process at the best of times, but with only a couple of days to go, there was no room for error and with no desire to return to the leather supplier for another expensive skin of leather, the cover was then blocked. With John's usual skill I needn't have worried and the cover was then ready for completion.
A matching tie was then cut in goatskin and woven through the cover. The prepared text block was then pasted into the leather cover.
Job done! We were very pleased with the results and hoped it would be received as well by both customer and the distinguished guest.
Job done! We were very pleased with the results and hoped it would be received as well by both customer and the distinguished guest.
On the evening of 13th October 2009, the journal was then presented to HRH The Princess Royal at the official opening of the new headquarters of the Society and it would seem from the reaction that our efforts were well received.
