Uniform Colours
Before proceeding to execute any of the colours, the books must be well and evenly paste-washed, and left till perfectly dry. It will also be necessary to observe that the black will become darker in all the subsequent operations of colouring, glairing, and polishing, so that attention must be paid not to use this liquid too strong.
LIGHT BROWN.
Wash the cover with vitriol-water till perfectly uniform in colour, and then with brown to the shade desired.
ANOTHER.
Mix a small quantity of annatto with the potash liquid, and use hot. This will produce a beautiful tint.
DARK BROWN.
Colour with weak black till a slate-shade is produced, and then apply the brown three or four times, as taste may dictate.
Others might be added, but the proceedings are the same, varying only the quantity of colour according to the shade. The nut-brown liquid will produce beautiful tints.
CORINTHIAN GRAPE.
The proceedings are the same as for the last colour, adding two or three coats of fine red.
COMMON GRAPE.
Proceed as for the last, omitting the brown after the black.
BLUE.
After giving four or five coats of the chemical blue diluted with water, wash lightly with weakened aqua regia, which will take off the green reflection produced by the yellow tint of the leather.
GREEN.
Give three or four coats of the green liquid, extended in water according to the shade required. Any of the other colours noticed in the preparations may be thus executed.
OLIVE.
After giving a slate-colour, apply yellow, boiled with a small portion of blue, on the cover, rubbing it equally in while hot, to insure uniformity.
PEARL GRAY.
This colour must be executed carefully, so as to be perfectly uniform and without stains. Colour over with exceedingly weak black liquid, till a pale gray is produced. The weaker it is, the better will the workman succeed. Then pass over a light coat of fine red mixed in a large portion of water, so as to give a light red reflection scarcely distinguishable.
SLATE.
Use the black liquid a little stronger than for the last, and omit the red.
BLACK.
For common purposes, the black may be formed in the way adopted for other colours; but, in many instances, it is necessary to produce a colour having the appearance of japan, and which will require more labour and attention.
Wash the book over with brown till a dark shade is formed; then, with a piece of woollen cloth, apply the black liquid mixed with japan, which will produce a beautiful black. This colour should have a good coat of vellum-size before glairing. Or it may be better to finish off with the varnish given in another part of the work.
Nutgalls, copperas, and gum-arabic, are used by many, and will be found to produce a good and bright colour.