rough-trimmed edges (Q502)

Uneven bookblock edges in which leaves were trimmed either individually or in groups, often by hand with shears, either before the book was sewn or after to remove the oversize leaves which would otherwise have projected from the edge of the bookblock. A rough-trimmed edge is therefore very different from one that is cut solid with a plough or draw knife (or, more recently, a guillotine). Edges of both sorts can be found on the same bookblock.