The invention relates to a method of trimming selvage from a succession of books. According to the method, a saw is provided having a pair of oppositely facing surfaces which merge at a cutting edge. One of the surfaces is substantially flat throughout its length or throughout all but the area of the surface adjacent the cutting edge. The latter area is bevelled as is the other surface of the saw. The books are advanced toward the saw and the saw is so positioned relative to the books such that its cutting run is normal to the direction of book advance and is parallel to the plane of the pages of the books. The saw is also positioned such that its first-mentioned surface faces pages trimmed by the saw and its other surface faces selvage trimmed by the saw.