Curiosa: Spare the rod or spoil the book!

From a set of "Directions to the Binder" in the 1740 London printing of New Memoirs of the Life and Poetical Works of Mr. John Milton (this copy formerly owned by one George Symmons, whose handwriting is lovely):

Be sure to lay a piece of waste paper between each of the Messo-tincto prints & the titles they are to face, to prevent the plates from setting off: &, for the same reason take care not to insert the plates before you beat the book, as also to beat the book itself as little as may be while it is green or new printed. All Books would appear neater, if not bound 'till three months after they are printed. 25. March 1740.

I know about off-setting, but this is the first I've heard of book-beating. Must look it up ...