{"id":2943,"date":"2012-12-09T01:00:56","date_gmt":"2012-12-09T06:00:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.herringbonebindery.com\/blog\/?p=2943"},"modified":"2025-09-15T16:30:43","modified_gmt":"2025-09-15T20:30:43","slug":"bookbinder-of-the-month-jan-sobota-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.herringbonebindery.com\/blog\/2012\/12\/09\/bookbinder-of-the-month-jan-sobota-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Bookbinder of the Month: Jan Sobota"},"content":{"rendered":"

Over the course of 10 years, Jan Sobota participated in four Helen Warren DeGolyer Triennial Competitions. Every three years the Bridwell Library on Southern Methodist University’s campus chooses a book from their collection to be rebound by an individual binder. Each participant offers a proposal binding for the chosen title in addition to an example of their work. The winner of the Helen Warren DeGolyer Award receives a commission to bind the selected book according to their design proposal. \u00a0Two other prizes are awarded for excellence in fine binding and design.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The first time Sobota entered this competition was in 2003, creating a proposal for Mark Twain’s Adventures of Huckleberry Finn<\/em><\/a>. His design was given the Judge’s Distinction of Interpretation award:<\/p>\n

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An example of his work submitted for the 2003 competition:<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

This binding of\u00a0Les Chansons de<\/em> Bilitis<\/em> by Pierre Lo\u00fcys<\/a> is translated from Greek and includes illustrations by G. Barbier engraved on wood by Fran\u00e7ois Schmied. This edition was printed in Paris in 1922. A triple cover board binding structure bound in brown Harmatan goatskin for the top layer, gold leather for the middle and dark blue goatskin for the doublures with blue suede leather flyleaves. The same gold leather was used to create wrapped headbands, the top edge was gilt.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\n

For the Fourth Helen Warren DeGolyer Exhibition<\/a> in 2006, Sobota presented his proposal for Jorge Luis Borges’\u00a0Ficciones<\/em><\/a>:<\/p>\n

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Sobota proposed a triple cover board binding structure, to be covered in dark blue paper made of leather-mach\u00e9, light blue French box calf (title in relief outlined in gold tooling) and batik suede pigskin. A brass plate on the spine engraved with the author’s name along with a brass clasp along the foredge engraved with the author’s portrait. The middle board would be covered with gold leather and doublures of batik suede pigskin. The flyleaves would be light blue paper of leather-mach\u00e9. Double core leather-tooled headbands and silver multi-metallic gilt top edge.<\/p>\n

“The design depicts the ‘fictitious’ soul of the text and the illustrations, which the author also suggests in the title of the book”. The 1987 edition of Ficciones<\/em>\u00a0includes illustrations by Gabriela Aberastury, Julio Pagnao, Mirta Ripoll, Ra\u00fal Russo and Alicia Scavino.<\/p>\n

An example of Sobota’s work included in the 2006 submission was a binding of Jules Verne’s\u00a0Le Tour Du Monde En Quatre-Vingts Jours<\/em><\/a>:<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

\n

John Grave’s <\/a>Goodbye to a River: A Narrative<\/a>\u00a0<\/em>was chosen for the Fifth Helen Warren DeGolyer Competition<\/a> in 2009. Here is Sobota’s proposal submission:\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

An example of his work included in the 2009 Exhibition is a binding of Edgard Claes’\u00a0K\u00fcnstlerische Bucheinb\u00e4nde in Polycarbonat: eine Lehrschrift f\u00fcr Laien und Hobbybuchbinder<\/em><\/a> <\/em>printed in Stuttgart by Fachhochschule, Hochschule der Medien in 2003:<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Bound as a Bradel structure with flying boards, the text is sewn on four yellow snakeskin tapes. Spine is covered in red goatskin with wooden boards covered with mahogany veneer. Wooden relief onlays depicting Edgard Claes\u2019s initials. The binding has yellow leather headbands and ochre suede flyleaves.<\/p>\n

\n

The Sixth Helen Warren DeGolyer Exhibition<\/a> is the fourth of these competitions Sobota participated in and was faced with proposing a design for\u00a0The Imitation of Christ<\/a><\/em>:<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Sobota proposed a box binding with a three board structure using Harmatan Nigerian goatskins, black for the binding and dark red for the doublures decorated with gold printed phrases derived from the text. The designs are inspired by the Paris 1788 edition of the text. All three sides of the box are to be hand gilt with lines to resemble the engraved plate in the book. In the center of the front cover are aluminum sliding doors covered in black goatskin gilt with concentric circles. In the very center a magnetic half-round boss will act as a latch for the doors, these bosses will also be placed in the center along all sides of the window. When sliding doors open, an image of the author will be visible covered in gold leaf to give off the illusion of an illumination on parchment. \u00a0<\/p>\n

The example of work Sobota submitted for the 2012 competition was a binding of Jean de La Fontaine’s\u00a0Fables choisies<\/em><\/a>, which includes original illustrations by Claire H\u00e9nault and an engraving by Hyacinthe Rigaud.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

resource: SMU: Helen Warren DeGolyer Triennial Exhibition<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Over the course of 10 years, Jan Sobota participated in four Helen Warren DeGolyer Triennial Competitions. Every three years the Bridwell Library on Southern Methodist University’s campus chooses a book from their collection to be rebound by an individual binder. Each participant offers a proposal binding for the chosen title in addition to an example […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[12,68,13],"tags":[490,1867,487,492,495,486,480,494,491,493,489,488,496],"class_list":["post-2943","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-binder-of-the-month","category-bookbinding","category-feature-book-of-the-week","tag-adventures-of-huckleberry-finn","tag-bookbinding","tag-bridwell-library","tag-ficciones","tag-goodbye-to-a-river","tag-helen-warren-degolyer","tag-jan-sobota","tag-john-grave","tag-jorge-luis-borges","tag-jules-verne","tag-mark-twain","tag-smu","tag-the-imitation-of-christ"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p2Btis-Lt","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":2764,"url":"https:\/\/www.herringbonebindery.com\/blog\/2012\/12\/01\/december-bookbinder-of-the-month-jan-sobota\/","url_meta":{"origin":2943,"position":0},"title":"December \/\/ Bookbinder of the Month: Jan Sobota","author":"Erin Fletcher","date":"December 1, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"Jan Sobota grew up engulfed by books, about 20,000 to be exact. His father was an avid collector of literature, most specifically children's literature, filling their small house to the brim with books. Every available square inch of wall space was covered with bookcases leaving only the windows and doors\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "binder of the month"","block_context":{"text":"binder of the month","link":"https:\/\/www.herringbonebindery.com\/blog\/category\/binder-of-the-month\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.herringbonebindery.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/12\/perrault4_jansobota.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.herringbonebindery.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/12\/perrault4_jansobota.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.herringbonebindery.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/12\/perrault4_jansobota.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.herringbonebindery.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/12\/perrault4_jansobota.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":2913,"url":"https:\/\/www.herringbonebindery.com\/blog\/2012\/12\/02\/bookbinder-of-the-month-jan-sobota\/","url_meta":{"origin":2943,"position":1},"title":"Bookbinder of the Month: Jan Sobota","author":"Erin Fletcher","date":"December 2, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"Jan Sobota produced several miniature bindings, which were included in various exhibitions. This binding of Edgar Allen Poe's\u00a0The Black Cat was published in a small edition of 20 by Jan and Jarmilla in 2009. This book-object was designed as a 'Jack-in-the-Box', the book is permanently attached to a spring that\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "binder of the month"","block_context":{"text":"binder of the month","link":"https:\/\/www.herringbonebindery.com\/blog\/category\/binder-of-the-month\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.herringbonebindery.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/12\/edgarallenpoe2_jansobota.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":3224,"url":"https:\/\/www.herringbonebindery.com\/blog\/2012\/12\/23\/bookbinder-of-the-month-jan-sobota-4\/","url_meta":{"origin":2943,"position":2},"title":"Bookbinder of the Month: Jan Sobota","author":"Erin Fletcher","date":"December 23, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"In the spirit of Christmas, I offer this binding by Jan Sobota that appears like box within a box. In 1986, Sobota completed this layered book object of Frantisek Rachlik's\u00a0Komedie\u00a0plna lasky (Comedy Full of Love), a story about the life of Jindrich Mosna, a famous Czech actor during the nineteenth\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "binder of the month"","block_context":{"text":"binder of the month","link":"https:\/\/www.herringbonebindery.com\/blog\/category\/binder-of-the-month\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.herringbonebindery.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/12\/rachlik3_sobota.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.herringbonebindery.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/12\/rachlik3_sobota.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.herringbonebindery.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/12\/rachlik3_sobota.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.herringbonebindery.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/12\/rachlik3_sobota.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":3369,"url":"https:\/\/www.herringbonebindery.com\/blog\/2012\/12\/30\/bookbinder-of-the-month-jan-sobota-5\/","url_meta":{"origin":2943,"position":3},"title":"Bookbinder of the Month: Jan Sobota","author":"Erin Fletcher","date":"December 30, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"I'm finishing off this month of Jan Sobota bindings with another miniature book that was created in collaboration with his wife Jarmila. Inside the hand-sculpted robot lives an accordion book of sixteen panels. The text explores the birth and usage of the word \"robot\", which is first used by the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "binder of the month"","block_context":{"text":"binder of the month","link":"https:\/\/www.herringbonebindery.com\/blog\/category\/binder-of-the-month\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.herringbonebindery.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/12\/asimov_sobota2.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":3061,"url":"https:\/\/www.herringbonebindery.com\/blog\/2012\/12\/16\/bookbinder-of-the-month-jan-sobota-3\/","url_meta":{"origin":2943,"position":4},"title":"Bookbinder of the Month: Jan Sobota","author":"Erin Fletcher","date":"December 16, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"This book object and stand were crafted by Jan Sobota in 1987, the book is Rimska Lyrika (Lyrics of the Roman Empire). The book is covered in natural calfskin with blind tooling, decorative edges and headbands. The stand is made of binders board and balsa wood covered with natural goatskin\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "binder of the month"","block_context":{"text":"binder of the month","link":"https:\/\/www.herringbonebindery.com\/blog\/category\/binder-of-the-month\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"rimskalyrika_jansobota","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.herringbonebindery.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/12\/rimskalyrika_jansobota-964x1024.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.herringbonebindery.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/12\/rimskalyrika_jansobota-964x1024.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.herringbonebindery.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/12\/rimskalyrika_jansobota-964x1024.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":9730,"url":"https:\/\/www.herringbonebindery.com\/blog\/2015\/06\/16\/seventh-triennial-helen-warren-degolyer-exhibition-and-bookbinding-competition-2015-winners-announced\/","url_meta":{"origin":2943,"position":5},"title":"Seventh Triennial Helen Warren DeGolyer Exhibition and Bookbinding Competition \/\/ 2015 – Winners Announced","author":"Erin Fletcher","date":"June 16, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"On June 5th, a conference was held at the Bridwell Library at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas. During the conference, the winners of the Seventh Helen Warren DeGolyer Triennial Exhibition and Competition were announced. Established in 1997, the DeGolyer Competition is hosted every three years to inspire and encourage\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "bookbinding"","block_context":{"text":"bookbinding","link":"https:\/\/www.herringbonebindery.com\/blog\/category\/bookbinding\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"DeGolyerProposal-PriscillaSpitler","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.herringbonebindery.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/DeGolyerProposal-PriscillaSpitler-1024x643.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.herringbonebindery.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/DeGolyerProposal-PriscillaSpitler-1024x643.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.herringbonebindery.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/DeGolyerProposal-PriscillaSpitler-1024x643.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.herringbonebindery.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2943","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.herringbonebindery.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.herringbonebindery.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.herringbonebindery.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.herringbonebindery.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2943"}],"version-history":[{"count":9,"href":"https:\/\/www.herringbonebindery.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2943\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":14667,"href":"https:\/\/www.herringbonebindery.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2943\/revisions\/14667"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.herringbonebindery.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2943"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.herringbonebindery.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2943"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.herringbonebindery.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2943"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}