Leatherbacks Books are handmade the old fashioned way and will last for centuries. Acid-free writing paper is folded and stitched with waxed linen thread to high-quality backing cloth. The result is glued by the bookbinder into hand carved plywood covers with leather spines.

The paper is recycled from 40% pre-consumer and 60% post-consumer waste. The leather used is offcuts procured from different industries who would have thrown it away.

Every Leatherbacks Book is hand carved with a unique design. The designs are the ideas of a few artists who are inspired by patterns and shapes and symbols found in urban spaces. Please see the gallery for examples of what is available. If the design is very popular it is re-used, but it is always uniquely hand carved. We can put absolutely any design on the cover, even one you have designed for us. Company logos can also be done. If it is a very intricate design, it will be laser engraved rather than hand carved.

Various decorative endpapers are available (the first and last pages – usually slightly thicker than the other pages) We can customise these endpapers or pick any patterns at random.

Each journal has some kind of  “pocket” for business cards or odd scraps of paper. Sometimes these pockets are sewn into the text block, but mostly they are right at the back on the end paper.

The spine is also customisable, you can choose from different shades of natural leather, dyed or stained leather, or suede. The spines can then be plain rounded or raised ridges can  be added for a more authentic touch.

Even though our speciality is wooden covers, we can also do journals, photo albums or visitors books covered entirely in book cloth or leather. We can add leather covered corners for an extra touch.

Because the books are handmade, they don’t turn out exactly the same shape and size

If you can think it, we can make it. Please contact us so that we can discuss your unique ideas.