BOOK RESTORATION & CONSERVATION
Give new life to an old book
TURN BACK
TIME
Our Restoration and Conservation service involves repairing any style of book in leather, cloth or paper, with the aim of creating a book that can safely be handled while still retaining its original look and style.
Most common book damage is spine and board detachment. Boards can be re-attached using linen, then the original covering material is carefully lifted and a closely matching material is placed underneath. The original spine is then replaced on top so that the repair is as unobtrusive as possible.
If the text block is damaged, sections can be repaired and resewn, or tears repaired using specialised Japanese papers. Very acidic pages can be washed to remove the acid and lined with very thin spider tissue for strength. Endbands and endpapers can also be resewn, repaired, or replaced. We can also make boxes or slip cases from matching materials if required.
Please do get in touch if you require more information on the bookbinding services we offer, though based in Berkshire we serve the whole of the UK.
RESTORATION
Paperbound book in original form. Spine shows a previous card repair that lifted easily using a paste compress
Separated sections showing damage to folds at spine
Sections (repaired using Japanese tissue and wheatstarch paste) ready for sewing
Sections sewn onto tapes and endpapers attached
Rounded text block
Rounded and backed
Book cased into new case (as specified by client)
Finished book showing gold tooling on spine
BOOK REPAIR
Previous cloth repair stuck onto spine and front board
Stain left by previous cloth repair and adhesive on front board
Damaged spine and detached back board
Discolouration and damage from previous repair
Previous repair putting strain on endpaper and front board
Previous repair showing some attempt to match endpapers but thick paper shows through underneath
Endpapers after repair
Back board showing new spine leather inlaid under old
Front board after rebinding
Repaired book showing spine with new label