About us

Philippa
Philippa Räder specialises in books, manuscripts and archives conservation (including preservation and collections care consultancy) as well as letterpress printing commissions. She is an Accredited Conservator-Restorer member of the Institute of Conservation (Icon) and a Professional Associate of the American Institute for Conservation (AIC).

A graduate in English from Cambridge University, Philippa trained in book and paper conservation at the Getty Research Institute, California. She has held positions at the Huntington Library in California, The National Archives (UK) in Kew and the Royal Collection Trust, where she was Head of the Royal Bindery in Windsor Castle until leaving to join Dragon Press Bindery in 2019.

Introduced to letterpress printing while living in Los Angeles, Philippa established her first private press in 1995 and has maintained one on-and-off ever since.

Philippa is a Liveryman of the
Worshipful Company of Stationers, serving on its charitable foundation bodies that provide financial support and mentoring to students enrolled in formal training within the trades of the Company, and mentoring grant recipients. She is a Continuing Professional Development review assessor and student mentor for Icon; a conference abstract submissions reviewer for the International Association of Book & Paper Conservators (IADA); Vice Chair of the Society of Bookbinders and Chair of its Outreach & Education Group.

Philippa is also a Director of Cyswllt-Cadwraeth/Connect-Conserve Cymru, a social enterprise working to connect smaller heritage collections with accredited conservators and project funding streams within Wales, as well as to support training and CPD for conservators and students.
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Dieter Räder has been binding books for over 40 years. Traditionally apprentice-trained in Germany, he specialises in fine binding commissions and the restoration of antiquarian books.

After serving his apprenticeship then teaching for a year, Dieter began travelling further afield to gain wider and more varied experience. Following employment in binderies in Marseilles and Vienna, he moved to London in 1983, where he worked for two years under the guidance of master book restorer Robert Green. He subsequently ran his own bindery in Somerset for some 20 years before relocation to the capital saw him establishing and managing the new fine binding and restoration department of a west London commercial bindery.

Dieter returned to private practice and opened Dragon Press Bindery in 2017. With a strong commitment to passing on skills and knowledge to future generations, he is an enthusiastic teacher, leading workshops and giving demonstrations both nationally and internationally.





Our bookbinding studio is fully equipped and can comfortably accommodate up to eight students.
It is available to hire by individuals or groups.

Please enquire through our contact page.

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We can offer accommodation for our three to five day workshops for you to enjoy a residential learning experience. This is available on a first-come/first-served basis.

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Dragon Press Bindery Ltd
Ynyswen, Nantgaredig,
Carmarthen, SA32 7PG
Company Number
10772518
Registered in England & Wales
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@ 2023 Dragon Press Bindery