The House Of Book Bindery

13/09/2024

"Hidup hanya sekali segalanya diuji dan diperhatikan oleh Nya , buat yang terbaik bukan untuk pujian atau tapi sebagai bekalan disana"

12/09/2024

Good morning, it's Friday

Have a lovely weekend

12/09/2024

https://www.harmatan.co.uk/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/p6_12c.jpg

09/09/2024

I remember completing the booklet and sending it to Scotland in 2012.

05/09/2024

"My favourite angle for photoshoots is the one that generates more inquiries."

Leather green 17 Stunning ...

31/08/2024

I recently restored and bound two holy books using beautiful leather. It took me two months to complete this project. The endpaper style I chose is rare and not commonly used for bookbinding. Someone in West Malaysia was the first to tell me that my talent for bookbinding is on par with experts. In response, I humbly replied with the phrase "La Hawla Wala Quwwata Illa Billah," meaning "There is no power and strength except with Allah." Each holy scripture has a different design, including using marble endpaper, a technique I have wanted to introduce for a long time, but this is the first time anyone has asked for it.

I enjoy sharing the stories behind the restoration and binding of each book and manuscript. I believe this helps people understand that not everyone can bind books, but everyone possesses unique talents from God.

I plan to write more about my journey today, but I hope people will still learn about my work even if I am no longer here. I want to encourage others to explore unique and rare industries that need to be more well-known, such as my work as a bookbinder. Let us learn from history. We don't want our manuscripts and other important historical documents to be kept in different countries,
Only some things can be digitalized, but physical hardcopy is proof of evidence.

I'm grateful that both holy scriptures have safely arrived in Penang and are now possessed by prominent individuals.

I have included pictures of the before-and-after restoration for this project, which used five goat skins from Harmatan and Oakridge LTD in England.

30/08/2024

As a bookbinder, I've had the privilege of restoring many treasured old manuscripts and family trees. My dedication to the privacy and security of these historical pieces has earned the trust of numerous prominent individuals who visit my studio.

The 2020 lockdown significantly delayed the completion of one particular project, hindering my ability to work within the studio and posing challenges in sourcing essential materials from overseas. With the owner's approval, I'm thrilled to finally unveil the stunning results of this labour-intensive endeavour.

I owe a debt of gratitude to my remarkably talented wife, whose unwavering support has been instrumental in my journey as a bookbinder. Her skills are exceptional, and I wouldn't be surprised if she eventually takes the reins from me.

One of my most notable undertakings involved a four-year effort to restore a precious poster. While I cannot divulge all the details on Facebook out of respect for privacy and customer wishes, I can reveal that the artwork is owned by a collector from Kajang, Kuala Lumpur, who entrusted me with several art pieces a few months ago.

"Behind every successful man stands a good wife, who not only supports him but also inspires him"

20/08/2024

I am incredibly honoured to receive a beautiful gift from the Bookbinder Society of the United Kingdom. I am proud of my challenging journey as a bookbinder, and today, I am grateful to have received this recognition after working hard in Sarawak. This honour makes me think of the movie "The Last of the Mohicans," which makes me feel like I am the last bookbinder in Sarawak, taking the craft to the next level.

I don't want to compare myself to anyone, but I believe nothing is impossible. Today, I will proudly wear this honour for as long as possible.

I want to express my heartfelt thanks to Sir Marc Lamb, the president of the Bookbinder Society, on the occasion of the society's 50th anniversary. The society was founded in Manchester, England.

"Preserving generations of wisdom and learning experiences is important, and sometimes modernity is not the only answer; antiquity is valuable as well"

Syukur Dan terima kasih Allah kerana memberi peluang untuk hamba ini.....

10/07/2024

Francis Thomas McDougall.

It is my professional estimation that this project will require a period of two years or more for completion. It is a privilege to undertake this task, and I have previous experience with similar projects. As agreed, I had the remaining five spades.

A brief historical anecdote pertaining to the image:

The Borneo Church Mission, an Anglican mission, was established in 1846. The Anglican Church commenced its activities in Sarawak on 29th June 1848, following the arrival of a group of missionaries at the invitation of James Brooke, the Rajah of Sarawak. Francis Thomas McDougall, who spearheaded the group, was deemed suitable for the role due to his dual expertise as a doctor and a priest.

I humbly acknowledge that I possess only modest abilities...

I wish you a delightful day!

08/07/2024

I recently had the pleasure of meeting someone who spoke highly of me. While I appreciate the kind words, I humbly say I am no one special. Any commendations belong to those of higher standing; I am merely here to serve.

Everything I possess in this life is a gift from a higher power. In reality, I have very little; as the song goes, "I Have Nothing", like Whitney Houston sang.

Let's allow the photographs to tell the tale.

I hope you have a wonderful holiday, and I wish you a peaceful Salam Muharram 1446.

05/07/2024

The knowledge and values instilled in me by my late parents have been invaluable. From my mother, I learned the importance of prioritising quality work over monetary gain, while my father taught me the significance of taking decisive action and speaking with purpose.

I have been entrusted with restoring a significant replica of the Qur'an, which holds a special place in Islamic history. This replica is a direct copy of the original from Topkapi, Istanbul, Turkey, attributed to Amirul Mu'minin Sayydina Uthman ibn Affan R.A, with an intriguing historical aspect. This missing page was replaced in Makkah 570 years ago. The restoration journey, involving a meticulous two-year and six-month process, entails using fine leather from Harmatan and Oakridge, culminating in a remarkable replica soon to be completed.

This monumental task demands meticulous attention to detail, and I am fully committed to ensuring that every aspect of the restoration process reflects the perfection of the original design. While explaining the intricacies of bookbinding may be challenging, I am resolute in my mission to carry out this prestigious assignment with the utmost care and expertise.

It is with great pride that I, a bookbinder from Sarawak, have been honoured with the opportunity to restore this revered Qur'an, belonging to a prominent figure in Malaysia. I humbly acknowledge my role in this endeavour and express profound gratitude for being entrusted with such an esteemed project.

"There is nothing to be proud of; my little talent and skill belong to Allah. I have nothing to show off."

01/07/2024

The use of marble paper for creating bespoke leather bindings is a time-honoured tradition in Europe, particularly in England, dating back to the Old Century.

We have sourced fine leather from England and possess the necessary skills for bookbinding. We are motivated to create extraordinary and impeccably finished products for individuals who appreciate our craft.

Our endeavour aims to uphold and sustain traditional industries that have been overshadowed by modern technology, ensuring that all our bespoke leather bindings are meticulously handmade."

27/06/2024

The following is a testament to my late father's academic achievements:

This hardbound dissertation was meticulously bound in England during his studies at South Devon Technical College Torquay in 1968. I vividly recall the approximate cost of £25.00 for each copy when he was still with us. It is remarkable to consider that in those days, every aspect of his work, including maps and graphs, was created using a typewriter and hand-drawn illustrations.

I have taken it upon myself to ensure the preservation and maintenance of his dissertation in our studio. It is truly humbling to reflect on the advances we have witnessed, as everything is now accomplished digitally.

26/06/2024

Perfectly matched old paper for 80 years of manuscripts ready to preserve for the next generation.

Have a lovely day followers...

25/06/2024

7 years ago.
Some of my little work of book restoration few years ago.

Along my journey:-

I was invited to restore Francis Lights' journal & manuscript in Penang 3 years ago to set up a studio to help preserve the manuscript.
I turned down the offer because I love my work here's......

24/06/2024

" Judge the book by its binding"

The Journey to Excellent Craftmanship

21/06/2024

The Rise of Fallen

I would love to share some of my little efforts to preserve the heritage of my collection.

I prefer to choose the Half-leather bound with a beautiful texture of goat skin from England. Nothing to compare his leather, stunning!
Hand-made bound a rare nowadays and only can be found in European countries.

Leather bound Bookbinder is the highest level and the last chapter of his journey......

19/06/2024

Not the first time rebinding and repairing the Quran belonging to Tahfiz students here.
But this is the first time I have had an opportunity to introduce a combination of modern contemporary and Islamic styles of binding with 2 tones of leather colours on the spine.

Bound for something stunning and memorable in my little journey......

17/06/2024

Muslim friends and followers.

12/06/2024

11/06/2024

As expected

06/06/2024

The disappearance of certain businesses was indeed unfortunate. I am open-minded about the situation and perceive it as an opportunity. The initial stage of cleaning involves the meticulous removal of all essential components before proceeding to the subsequent phase, ultimately resulting in the book block being thoroughly cleaned from its original state. The book is the property of individuals from Australia. I hope you found this information intriguing, and I look forward to providing more updates if you are interested.

No question to answer or direct pm in the box, please...

01/06/2024

To all of Dayak's friends and followers, I extend my sincerest wishes for a joyous Ari Gawai celebration. I am deeply grateful for your unwavering support of my modest studio over the years.

20/05/2024

"Bukan mudah tapi hanya satu jalan"

17/05/2024

That's how the last chapter will Ending

14/05/2024

Before the end of my journey

Share a little knowledge with her.....Moor leather and craft Kuala Lumpur

"If you want to know the difference between a master and a beginner"?

"The master has failed more than the beginner has ever tried"

May Allah bless your beautiful journeys and keep my knowledge well.

HMS bookbinder

07/05/2024

Some individuals have a preference for the tactile experience of hard and soft covers, particularly when it comes to the exquisite texture of leather. The 29-year-old bible in question has been bound using a softcover leather binding technique. The individual who owns this bible prefers simple designs and does not have a preference for intricate ones. I would like to express gratitude to the retired English teacher from Green Road Primary School.

26/04/2024

some of Precious's guidelines on how to be a bookbinder, Some of my books have been with me for more than 20 years.

Stunning!

24/04/2024

"The fallen shall rise again"

23/04/2024

I drove to Miri during Eid and received a request for print and bound. Despite being tired, I delivered and enjoyed the scenery. I stopped at different places to observe Eid celebrations. I appreciate the Headmaster of SK Melugu Sri Aman and his assistant for their kind words. I will remember the beautiful school and the stunning scenery. The date was 19.4.2024.