I have seen such admonitions about "beating the sheets" too soon, etc., in
various publications. The distinction being made between a "whole" binding
and the boards is that the latter is merely a stop-gap to protect the sheets
and plates from unnecessary damage while the former is the "whole" work-up.
Webster gives this definition of the adjective "whole":
whole
adj 1: including all components without exception; being one unit
or constituting the full amount or extent or duration;
complete;
What Thomas is saying is that until the ink has completely dried and set,
the book should not be subject to the complete, "whole" binding
process--i.e., boards, sheep, beating, pressing, spine labels, etc. A
"whole" binding is not some type of special binding; it's merely a regular
binding put on in the conventional manner. The advantage of leaving a book
in boards is that the sheets and plates are not overly pressed into one
another, thus preventing the offsetting commonly seen. Apparently it took
the ink and paper a while to dry completely and stabilize.
Everett Wilkie
2006 Carey Road
Kinston, NC 28501
ewilkie@ix.netcom.com
252-522-0261
Cell: 860-712-4421
"Big Bird Seed Sale"
--Store sign