The art of bookbinding resists time.

Şerafettin Er, who lives in Kütahya, is trying to keep alive the bookbinding profession, once considered one of the popular occupations, which is now on the verge of extinction. The 62-year-old Er stated that he continues his profession with the same excitement as the first day in the historical Muvakkithane building, built in 1831 by Kütahya’s Mütesellim Halil Kamil Ağa in the Balık neighborhood.

Er expressed that he is the last representative of his profession in Kütahya. Bookbinding master Şerafettin Er said, “I have been practicing the bookbinding profession for 22 years. I repair old Qurans and books using traditional methods. This profession, known as the bookbinder master in the Ottoman period, is an art that is on the verge of being lost today. I try to continue this profession and be useful to people. I make the sewing of old books, create the book cover, and repair them with a new cover, restoring them to a like-new condition. In particular, I repair the books of middle-aged people who want to renew their old Qurans. Additionally, I repaired the Ottoman bound books of the Kütahya Land Registry Office for 4.5 years. My door is open to those who want to learn this profession. I would be pleased to teach this profession. However, no one has shown enthusiasm. Bookbinding is not a job that can be learned in one day; it is a craft that requires experience and patience over time. In the bookbinding process, you first remove the cover and sew the book forms, then support it with fabric and glue the side paper, and measure to make the new cover. In the final stage, you complete the book by pressing it. Although the new generation books are machine-printed, sometimes there are mistakes even in these books, and I provide service to the citizens by correcting them.”