Endband

An endband is a part of a book, most often found with hardcover bindings, that consists of a small cord or strip of material affixed near the spine to provide structural reinforcement and sometimes decorative effect.An endband, more so the headband, helps to resist the strain placed on the book when shelved upright with the spine facing outward, especially as it is common to pull a book out by hooking a finger over the top edge of the spine.Endbands were traditionally made from small pieces of vellum, catgut, or cord wrapped or braided with silk; though today they are separately manufactured ribbons.The endband is tightly sewn to the sections of the book where it can support the weight of the pages.When endbands are used for decorative purposes they may only be glued in place rather than sewn, though at a loss of reinforcing strength.
The headbands of four books showing some variation in the decorative style and colors
Hand-sewn endbands before casing-in of the book blocks.
hardcover bindingsshelvedvellumcatgutsectionsEthiopian bindingBook designPage layouttypographyAnnotationFootnoteMarginal noteScholiaCanons of page constructionCatchwordColumnFooterHeaderHeadpieceIlluminationInitialHistoriatedInhabitedMarginMiniatureOrnamentPage numberingPull quoteRecto and versoRubricRubricationTypefaceFront and back coversAnthropodermic bibliopegyBookbindingBuckramDust jacketHardcoverPaperbackPicture coverTreasure bindingEndpapersMarbledHalf-titleFrontispieceTitle pageEdition noticeImprimi potestNihil obstatImprimaturDedicationEpigraphTable of contentsForewordPrefaceAcknowledgmentsIntroductionProloguePrinter's markBody textChaptersIllustrationsTipped-in pagesAfterwordConclusionEpiloguePostscriptEndnotesGlossaryBibliographyErrataColophonPostfaceAuthor pageBook curseBookplateBook rhymeExtra-illustrationFore-edge paintingIntentionally blank pagePop-upsSlipcaseThumb indexmaking art out of booksthe design of mass-produced books