Endpapers are sheets of paper pasted to the inside front and back covers of books for two purposes. Their main objective is to provide structural support to the book’s spine while protecting the surfaces against abrasion.
Endpapers typically consist of heavier-weight paper than that used for the body of a book, enabling it to support its spine better and protect its covers from being damaged. White is often chosen as the color or pattern for endpapers, but they can come in any hue or design imaginable.
Some endpapers come with pockets that store loose items like tickets and receipts, while endpapers also make attractive bookmarks.
You will require a sheet of heavy paper, a pencil and ruler, scissors, and glue to create your endpapers. Start by measuring and cutting to your desired size before drawing a line down the center with a pencil and ruler.
Fold the paper in half twice and again to form two sets of parallel folds. Unfold it, unfold it once more, and fold both the top and bottom edges toward the center fold before folding it back up again to finish folding it in half one final time.
Carefully cut along the center fold line without cutting through folded edges, unfold the paper, and use glue to adhere it to your book’s front or back cover.
Endpapers are widely available pre-made at craft and book supply stores.
Endpapers are an integral component of bookbinding. They play an essential role in supporting the spine of a book and protecting its pages from tears, as well as adding stability to prevent cover wrinkling. Endpapers typically consist of acid-free paper or cloth to extend their lifespan and lengthen it.