"A Degree of Mastery is at once a detailed and personal account of the author's study of bookbinding and paper conservation as the first woman apprentice with one of that craft's great masters, internationally known book preservationist William Anthony.".

"Annie Tremmel Wilcox interweaves the careful description of her craft with the formation of her special working relationship with her mentor. The University of Iowa created its Center for the Book so that Anthony and others could teach the skills of bookbinding to students like the author. When his unexpected death left her struggling to continue without predictable and reliable guidance, she eventually arrived at the decision to become her own master."--BOOK JACKET.