David Barry has been doing the same job for the past 31 years. At 16, he learned the traditional crafts of book bindery and restoration. When friends of his family in native Wales mentioned they needed holiday help in their small hand bindery, David jumped at the chance.
He stayed and embarked on a six-year apprenticeship, learning every aspect of bookbinding. He spent a total of 13 years working with and learning from the same couple who needed his help during the holidays.
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David went on to attend the School of Bookbinding in Wales. He came to St. Petersburg nine years ago after working as the head of the restoration department at a Los Angeles bookbinding company.
“I don’t know how to do anything else,” said David, laughing. “I am fortunate to do something I love and make a living at it, too.”
He works out of a sunny studio on the 7200 Block of Central Avenue, tucked between several antique shops and restaurants.
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David’s business, Griffin Bookbinding, was a previous tenant for five years at Salt Creek Artworks Galleries. The building sold this past summer, displacing several local artists. Despite the unexpected change, he is pleased with the new location now eight months later.
“It’s been a good move. I have more foot traffic.” he said. “Thankfully, I am always busy.”
He has seen several expensive, rare books pass through his studio. Among the most memorable? A first edition of Rudyard Kipling’s Jungle Book, which David rebound, valued at approximately $30,000.
His range of work varies. A woman brought in a cookbook from 1942 to preserve. Her only specific request? Keep the handwritten notes tucked inside the cookbook by her mother and grandmother.
Large family bibles are also items David regularly restores. “Really, they are priceless because of the sentimentality factor,” he said. At one time, bibles were the only form of record keeping. Currently, David is restoring three family heirlooms: one from 1873, another from 1760, and a third from 1560.
David marvels at his job. “I get to see and work with pieces of history, which is tremendous,” he said.
He takes out the careworn bible from 1560, gently opens to the first few yellowed pages and explains how each letter was pressed into the handmade paper, unbound and spilling out of the book’s spine. He flips the page over to show the indentations of the letters.
Besides restoring centuries old bibles and family heirlooms, David helps clients create their own heirlooms to pass down.
During the holidays, he sees an increase in memoir-type books needing to be bound. “It’s always nice to see how proud they are of their work,” David said.
David Barry will be a vendor at the 32nd Annual Florida Antiquarian Book Fair, March 8th-10th at the St. Petersburg Coliseum, where he will present a selection of his work and a slideshow.
Photos and report contributed by Aimee Alexander, freelance Journalist and recent USFSP Journalism & Media Studies graduate. Her love of art, history, events, local businesses and what makes people tick is the driving force behind her stories. When not scouring Pass-a-Grille Beach for seashells with her two children, Aimee can be found riding her bike along Coffee Pot Bayou, soaking up the sunshine on the trails of Boyd Hill Nature Preserve, or sampling local fare at the Saturday Morning Market.
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