Stupid question about Core Rulebook binding!

Hello everyone!
I just bought a copy of the pathfinder core rulebook from a local store. It is the 5th printing we are talking about and something seems a little strange to me. When I open the book in half (for example) the white binding, that serves to keep the pages together, seems to be totally seperated from the hardcover!! I have got no knowledge at all for all these so I just wanted to ask if this is normal (part of the binding technique or something..) or my book has a flaw!??

Thanks in advance

If I read you right, what you're saying is that there's an inner spine (to which the pages are attached) that is not glued to the cover-spine, right? But the front and back covers themselves are still properly glued, so you could probably slide a pencil or something down the spine of the book and it will fall out? My copy of the NPC Codex is similarly bound, so it seems pretty normal for recent books, though my 2nd printing CRB has the page spine glued to the cover spine.

I've also seen it on numerous hardcover books, lately, so it seems pretty standard: my only advice is take care, because the cover can come loose more easily.

Yes..this is exactly the case..happy to hear it's probably normal!!
So..I see..I ll take extra care of it! Thank you again chemlak!

If you are very careful, some glue down that hole can solve that problem. You do it at your own risk of course but we've had some luck with gorilla glue.

Really need to know what your doing though, that stuff foams up out the end if your not careful.

Additional information: Case Binding Diagram

Thick hardcovers are bound that way to make them readable when the book is lying flat: Another Illustration

Hey M0bious,

The Core Rulebook is bound so that the inner spine and outer spine of the book are not directly bound together. If you're seeing the page binding lift off from the spine slightly when you open your book then its working as intended. :)

- Erik Keith
Customer Service

My copy of the NPC Codex is similarly bound, so it seems pretty normal for recent books, though my 2nd printing CRB has the page spine glued to the cover spine.

The printer we used for the first two printings of the Core Rulebook and the first printing of the Bestiary glued down the spine; the printer we've used for every hardcover since then does not glue down the spine. The current technique seems to last longer.

Thank all of you for your quick response and help! That's why I love this messageboard!