About Us

Our commitment to quality and customer service is firmly rooted in our past. The company was established in North Denver in 1929, specializing in repairing old books and binding. It started as a home-based business, moving to Five Points in a converted house purchased by Axel Erslund and his wife Sylvia in 1946.

Axel had achieved the rank of Master Bookbinder in Denmark after apprenticing in the king’s court. He immigrated to the United States in 1929, when there were more than 90,000 hardcover book workers employed in the industry. He worked from New York City to Washington state, and when Denver Bookbinding Company was available to purchase in 1946, he talked his wife into purchasing the business. He and his family came to Denver in December 1946.

5 Generations of Service

Starting out in the converted house on 23rd and Welton St., the close-knit family performed all the bindery operations by hand. The pages were sewn together on a loom that Axel had brought with him from Denmark. Rita, his daughter, sanded off the backs of the glued magazine spines with an oversized wood file.

Denver Public Library and Colorado School of Mines were inherited as a few of the public library customers, and the company has rebound many Bibles for individual customers. The company relocated to northwest Denver in 1961 and relocated in 2013, when gentrification overtook the neighborhood and the local businesses. The company moved to the current location at 1401 W. 47th Ave.

In 2019, the company has started its 90th year in business and is in its fifth generation. Upon Axel’s death in 1972, the company became woman-owned and continues to operate as one of the few female-owned and operated binderies in the United States.

What Our Clients Say

I searched for a bookbinding company to make a book for my son, who served in Iraq and Afghanistan in the USMC. I had his letters and pictures of his platoons from his days at Parris Island through OCS, Ramadi and Helmand Province--and a Bronze Star (V). I am so fortunate we found Gail and Denver Bookbinding. Gail guided me through the process, selecting the cover material, the alignment and then produced 4 copies of the book at an incredibly fair price. My son, his sister and mother each received a copy--they are lifetime heirlooms. My son said: "Now my children will know what I did in the Corps and my relationship with my dad." We all thank Gail and her team.
David Branson

In 2008 we ordered numerous family tree books to be bound....this company was wonderful to work with and our books were done at time they said they would be. Very impressed with their work!

Linda Lippert

Very friendly staff. This place has done an excellent job in preserving my professional journals for many years.

Richard Brundige

Great staff and an incredible product! We visited on pi day (March 14th) and as we walkef in the door were quickly offered wonderful choices of delicious pies. From there they passionately answered our questions and got us the materials we needed. Thanks Denver Book Binding!

Beau Palin

Denver Bookbinding and the Second Story Event Space is a great place to hold an event at. I had my baby shower there and felt nothing but welcomed onto their property. There is plenty of parking and it is very open and spacious. I even had Denver Bookbindings employees help me with setting up the tables and chairs. I would highly reccomend this event center to all my friends and family.

Ann Lindley

Excellent work always listen to what I want and make better suggestion than what I was thinking. I have several more books to have binding down, will only deal with Denver bookbonders.

Wayne Pennington
Loved the spot, really nice atmosphere with comfy sofa chairs and a large bookcase full of books, they had a dog named Apollo that walked right up to me and everyone there was super nice.
Matthew Wilburn