Historically, bookbinders worked for longer hours and for less pay than most artisans. In the revolutionary unease of the late eighteenth century, the London bookbinders decided to strike for a reduction in their working day. This landed the binders in trouble, with some ending up in jail. The Great Bookbinding Strike of 1786 is an extraordinary story of labor strife, fine bookbinding, early trade unionism, and the long journey towards the forty hour week.
Dominic trained at the London College of Printing (1988-90), and spends his time restoring antiquarian books, creating design bindings for exhibitions and to commission, teaching and lecturing.
Riley has made about eighty design bindings to date. These are held in places such as the British Library, the V&A, the the Grolier Club in New York, and the San Francisco Public Library. He has won over twenty prizes for his bindings, including first prize – the Paul Getty Award — in Designer Bookbinders’ International Competition in 2013. He has taught and lectured across the world and spends his summer teaching at the San Francisco Center for the Book. Dominic was elected Fellow of DB in 2009 and currently serves as President of the Society of Bookbinders.
Cost: $10