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This short course will demonstrate the techniques, tools and materials associated with gold foil lettering. It aims to impart an understanding of how a book is lettered and to instill the confidence needed to improve upon that skill after the course has finished.
What will we cover?
- The tools & equipment needed for lettering. - Lettering on different materials, eg. Leather, Cloth, Buckram. - The positioning of letters, words & lines. - A basic appreciation of typefaces/fonts. - Understanding hot foils. - Making templates. - Layout & design in lettering.
What will I achieve? By the end of this course you should be able to...
- Name some common bookbinder’s typefaces/fonts - Make a simple template. - Use the template for hand lettering on leather, cloth or buckram. - Make a good solid impression of a letter/word. - Correct a faulty impression.
What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?
The course is aimed at beginners but some previous bookbinding experience is necessary. This course will be taught through step-by step instructions and demonstrations. You should be able to follow simple written and verbal instructions, to use the hand-outs which support demonstrations and follow health and safety information.
How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?
Teaching will be through practical demonstrations and presentations, both to the group and to individuals. Handouts will be provided. Group discussions and feedback are encouraged.
Are there any other costs? Is there anything I need to bring?
Please bring with you a notebook and pencil and a few copper coins.There will also be a small fee of £5.00 for materials.
When I've finished, what course can I do next?
VD300 Bookbinding: Gold tooling on leather VD412 Bookbinding: Gold tooling on paper VD251 Bookbinding: Decorative techniques for leather VD361 Creative Techniques for bookbinding II: leather dyeing techniques.
Royston has 5 decades of experience as a bookbinder, beginning his apprenticeship in 1973. He is accredited with basic and advanced City & Guilds in Craft Bookbinding, gaining a distinction at advanced level. In 1984 he joined Sangorski & Sutcliffe where he acquired a love of fine binding. Royston has been a part time Tutor at the London College of Printing and Camberwell College of Art. He has run workshops and masterclasses on basic and advanced techniques of fine binding, as well as more specialised workshops in areas such as wooden board bindings, Cosway bindings and Paring and Sharpening Techniques. Additionally, prior to his retirement in 2015, he had 25 years of experience at the British Library Conservation Centre, conserving rare books and manuscripts. Royston now works part time as a bookbinding tutor at City Lit and is a visiting tutor at the Royal Library in Windsor, as well as teaching private students.
Please note: We reserve the right to change our tutors from those advertised. This happens rarely, but if it does, we are unable to refund fees due to this. Our tutors may have different teaching styles; however we guarantee a consistent quality of teaching in all our courses.
product
https://www.citylit.ac.uk/bookbinding-lettering-with-foils320945Bookbinding: lettering with foilshttps://www.citylit.ac.uk/media/catalog/product/l/e/lettering_image_1.jpeg179179GBPInStock/Courses/Courses/Art & design/Courses/Art & design/Contemporary crafts/Courses/Art & design/Contemporary crafts/Bookbinding/Courses/vm/Summer offers/Courses/vm/Summer courses/Courses/vm/Summer courses/Summer courses in art & design22851132113911411361413457135631228511321139165313457This course is a basic introduction to lettering for the bookbinder using individual handle letters and gold foil as a transfer medium.152540092Bookbinding: lettering with foils179179https://www.citylit.ac.uk/media/catalog/product/l/e/lettering_image_1_2.jpegInStockDaytimeThu-FriKeeley StreetAvailable courses1 to 4 weeksWeekday2026-07-16T00:00:00+00:00Jul 2026Art & designVD376179179Bookbinding: lettering with foils143116179Royston Hawardbookbinding-lettering-with-foils/vd376-2526This course is a basic introduction to lettering for the bookbinder using individual handle letters and gold foil as a transfer medium.0000-Available|2026-07-16 00:00:00This short course will demonstrate the techniques, tools and materials associated with gold foil lettering. It aims to impart an understanding of how a book is lettered and to instill the confidence needed to improve upon that skill after the course has finished.This course is a basic introduction to lettering for the bookbinder using individual handle letters and gold foil as a transfer medium.- The tools & equipment needed for lettering.<br/>- Lettering on different materials, eg. Leather, Cloth, Buckram.<br/>- The positioning of letters, words & lines.<br/>- A basic appreciation of typefaces/fonts.<br/>- Understanding hot foils.<br/>- Making templates.<br/>- Layout & design in lettering.- Name some common bookbinder’s typefaces/fonts<br/>- Make a simple template.<br/>- Use the template for hand lettering on leather, cloth or buckram.<br/>- Make a good solid impression of a letter/word.<br/>- Correct a faulty impression.The course is aimed at beginners but some previous bookbinding experience is necessary. This course will be taught through step-by step instructions and demonstrations. You should be able to follow simple written and verbal instructions, to use the hand-outs which support demonstrations and follow health and safety information.Teaching will be through practical demonstrations and presentations, both to the group and to individuals. Handouts will be provided. Group discussions and feedback are encouraged.Please bring with you a notebook and pencil and a few copper coins.There will also be a small fee of £5.00 for materials.VD300 Bookbinding: Gold tooling on leather<br/>VD412 Bookbinding: Gold tooling on paper<br/>VD251 Bookbinding: Decorative techniques for leather<br/>VD361 Creative Techniques for bookbinding II: leather dyeing techniques.Contemporary craftsBookbindingvirtual143179116VD376NONEThu-Fri16/07/26 - 17/07/2610:30 - 16:3010:3016:302 sessions21 to 4 weeksWeekdayKSKeeley StreetRoyston HawardAvailable courses2026-07-16T00:00:00+00:00DaytimeJul 2026Art & design179179Bookbinding: lettering with foilsbookbinding-lettering-with-foils/vd376-2526This course is a basic introduction to lettering for the bookbinder using individual handle letters and gold foil as a transfer medium.0000-Available|2026-07-16 00:00:00This short course will demonstrate the techniques, tools and materials associated with gold foil lettering. It aims to impart an understanding of how a book is lettered and to instill the confidence needed to improve upon that skill after the course has finished.This course is a basic introduction to lettering for the bookbinder using individual handle letters and gold foil as a transfer medium.- The tools &amp; equipment needed for lettering.<br/>- Lettering on different materials, eg. Leather, Cloth, Buckram.<br/>- The positioning of letters, words &amp; lines.<br/>- A basic appreciation of typefaces/fonts.<br/>- Understanding hot foils.<br/>- Making templates.<br/>- Layout &amp; design in lettering.- Name some common bookbinder’s typefaces/fonts<br/>- Make a simple template.<br/>- Use the template for hand lettering on leather, cloth or buckram.<br/>- Make a good solid impression of a letter/word.<br/>- Correct a faulty impression.The course is aimed at beginners but some previous bookbinding experience is necessary. This course will be taught through step-by step instructions and demonstrations. You should be able to follow simple written and verbal instructions, to use the hand-outs which support demonstrations and follow health and safety information.Teaching will be through practical demonstrations and presentations, both to the group and to individuals. Handouts will be provided. Group discussions and feedback are encouraged.Please bring with you a notebook and pencil and a few copper coins.There will also be a small fee of £5.00 for materials.VD300 Bookbinding: Gold tooling on leather<br/>VD412 Bookbinding: Gold tooling on paper<br/>VD251 Bookbinding: Decorative techniques for leather<br/>VD361 Creative Techniques for bookbinding II: leather dyeing techniques.Contemporary craftsBookbindingconfigurable
