Encasement

After a group of books are printed, they are often put in a case. This is a cloth case that is
constructed from boards that have a cloth upholstering. Traditional cloth cases are a single line of
boards attached together and covered by the cloth; the insides are papered. The pile of books are
placed in the middle board, and the left-hand boards wrap the left side and the front of the books,
and the right boards wrap the right side and on top of the left side boards. The right side front
board has the title tag pasted on the top right-hand side. The rightmost edge has a lip, from which
two straps with ivory or bone tallies are connected to. These straps are pulled down the left side,
where there are the loops where they are inserted to secure the whole case together.

Modern cases are much like Western ones. They are basically cuboid with an opening in one side
where the books slot in. The Chinese have a separate board to wrap the books before inserting
into the case.