Bookbinders' Workshop

Leathers - NEW!

BOOKBINDERS WORKSHOP is working with tanneries from all over the world in order to bring you some of the finest bookbinding leathers available. We are committed to bringing you quality skins at affordable prices.

smooth goat skin | sokoto goat skin | calf skin | alum-tawed pigskin

Our leathers are individually sized (the square footage is stamped on the back). To purchase these fine leathers:

Choose your quantity and color selection(s)

Email your order to info@bookbindersworkshop.com or call 801-548-1824

Final pricing will be based on the actual size of each skin (in square feet) plus shipping

We will contact you with payment instructions and your total purchase price including shipping.

It's that easy!

Smooth Goatskin
Smooth GOATSKIN - $10.95/sq.ft. These are 1st quality skins. (Compare at $18.00 and up for 2nd quality.) * Strong, superior quality bookbinding leather * Beautifully * 100% vegetable tanned. * Tools beautifully in gilt (gold) or blind. * Bernard Middleton says this is a fabulous substitution for sheepskin. * Average size 5 - 7 square feet * Available in 4 colors (burgundy, brown, natural, black) Choose your quantity and color selection(s) Email your order to info@bookbindersworkshop.com or call 801-548-1824 Final pricing will be based on the actual size of each skin @$10.95/sq.ft. plus shipping We will contact you with payment instructions and your total purchase price including shipping.

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Sokoto Goatskin
Sokoto Goatskin - $14.95/sq.ft. These are 1st quality skins. (Compare elsewhere at $18.00 and up for 2nd quality.) * Strong, superior quality bookbinding leather * Beautiful natural grain * 100% vegetable tanned * Tools beautifully in gilt (gold) or blind * Average size 3 - 4 square feet * Available in 5 colors (burgundy, green, brown, natural, black) Choose your quantity and color selection(s) Email your order to info@bookbindersworkshop.com or call 801-548-1824 Final pricing will be based on the actual size of each skin @$14.95/sq.ft. plus shipping We will contact you with payment instructions and your total purchase price including shipping.


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Calfskin
British CALFSKIN - $16.95 / sq.ft. These are first quality skins. (Compare at $20.00 and up from other suppliers.) * Strong, superior quality bookbinding leather * Beautiful rich finish * 100% vegetable tanned for perfect tooling * Average size 6 - 8 square feet * Available in 2 colors (British tan and black) Choose your quantity and color selection(s) Email your order to info@bookbindersworkshop.com or call 801-548-1824 Final pricing will be based on the actual size of each skin @$16.95/sq.ft. plus shipping We will contact you with payment instructions and your total purchase price including shipping.


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Alum-tawed Pigskin Leather
Alum-tawed Pigskin - 28.95 / sq.ft. Bookbinders Workshop and Franz Hoffman Leathers of Stuttgart, Germany have revived genuine Alum-tawed Pigskin Leather. This leather has been unobtainable anywhere for many years and is now available exclusively from Bookbinders Workshop. Because these skins are very large (averaging over 20 square feet each) we will offer both FULL skins and HALF skins. Small quantities are also available for sewing thongs, half and quarter bindings. Contact us for details and pricing. * Strong, superior quality bookbinding leather * Beautiful rich finish * Full skins average 20 to 24 sq. ft. * Half skins average size 10 to 12 sq. ft. Choose your quantity and color selection(s) Email your order to info@bookbindersworkshop.com or call 801-548-1824 Final pricing will be based on the actual size of each skin @$28.95/sq.ft. plus shipping. We will contact you with payment instructions and your total purchase price including shipping.


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Alum-tawed skins were a staple of medieval bindings and were highly sought-after as a covering material well into the 17th century. Tawing is an ancient process in which animal skins were treated with aluminum salts and (usually) egg yolk, flour, salt and other trace elements. After undergoing this treatment, the skins were crusted (dried in air) and held in this condition for several weeks which allowed stabilization or aging effects. Technically, tawed skins are "treated" and are therefore different from other leathers in which the proteins in the skins are "converted" by the tannic acid used in the tanning process to create the desired results. Alum-tawed skins are usually white to ivory in color, although they are easily dyed using typical means. Tawed pigskin is exceptionally strong and long-lasting. In fact, Gutenberg chose alum-tawed pigskin to encase his masterpiece Bible. Today, over 500 years later, several of these beautiful bindings still provide a strong protective armor.