Keeping the art of bookbinding alive
KAREN McGuire, a bookbinder and gold finisher by trade, is one of Highfields’ little gems.
The mother of three has been working from her home north of Toowoomba for the past two years, taking orders for book restorations from across the country.
“It’s a rewarding trade,” she said.
“It’s nice that people come to you with a book that looks like it could be put in the bin – and you put it back together.”
While Mrs McGuire began learning the trade only seven or eight years ago, it was her parents who introduced her to the world of gold leaf and leather and paper and ink.
Her father, Roger Perry, was an apprentice finisher at George Bayntun in Bath in the United Kingdom when he met her mother Penny, who worked in the sewing department.
George Bayntun is one of the oldest binderies in the UK and is still in business.
Mrs McGuire and her sister moved to Australia and then a bit over a decade ago, their parents followed.
“Dad has built up his own business because he does a lot of work for all the major book dealers in Australia … they were obviously concerned with them getting older that there wouldn’t be anybody to continue the trade because there’s not many people who can hand tool with gold leaf because it’s difficult and takes a lot of practice,” she said.
While her mum does page repairs and sewing and her father does the binding and finishing, Mrs McGuire has learned to do it all.
“You do have to have a real good eye for detail with goldwork because it’s hard work,” she said.
“But it’s only because my dad has absolutely drilled me and berated me … if it’s not been good enough.
“You’ve got to take the care and put the effort into making it right.”