Book Care and Repair - Glue, Tape, Covers, Odours, etc.

The books! Over seven hundred of them and still counting...
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Rob Houghton
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Re: Book Care and Repair - Plastic Book Covers, etc.

Post by Rob Houghton »

admittedly I think some very small chips of white were showing through on the cover he complained about - but only very small patches. I guess it depends how well these repairs are done and if they detract from the original effect or not. However, for me personally, rips are more detracting than repairs!
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Re: Book Care and Repair - Plastic Book Covers, etc.

Post by IceMaiden »

That looks such a net and tidy job, like everyone else I can't understand why someone would complain about that. If it was mended on the outside maybe but not on the inside of the wrapper! You can't please everyone as they say, but I bet more people would be pleased than not. I'm going to have a go at mending my Treasury wrapper now, it's not going to look as neat as yours but if I can stop it breaking up any more I'll be happy :D.
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Re: Book Care and Repair - Plastic Book Covers, etc.

Post by John Pickup »

That's a very good repair, Rob. When can you send the book? :D
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Re: Book Care and Repair - Plastic Book Covers, etc.

Post by Julie2owlsdene »

That's a lovely repair job. :)

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Rob Houghton
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Re: Book Care and Repair - Plastic Book Covers, etc.

Post by Rob Houghton »

Thank you all! :-D
'Oh voice of Spring of Youth
hearts mad delight,
Sing on, sing on, and when the sun is gone
I'll warm me with your echoes
through the night.'

(E. Blyton, Sunday Times, 1951)



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Glue or alternative for repairing books

Post by IceMaiden »

Merged with an older thread.

My copy of At Seaside Cottage is coming apart despite very careful handling. I think possibly due to the spine being cloth and it's age. Anyway, some of the pages have come from the spine so there's a couple of gaps and because the spine is only cloth it's not very sturdy. I don't like repairing books unless it's necessary but this is going to be a pile of loose pages before too long which is a far worse prospect than a complete book that's had a little surgery :P . I have now glued up the gaps with a glue stick (I didn't dare risk runny pva getting on the pages and gluing them shut!) which has worked but I'm wondering how long for and if there's a better option? I have no intentions of selling the book but it cost a lot and I can't replace it easily so I don't want it falling apart.
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I'm just an old fashioned girl with an old fashioned mind
Not sophisticated, I'm the sweet and simple kind
I want an old fashioned house, with an old fashioned fence
And A̶n̶ ̶o̶l̶d̶ ̶f̶a̶s̶h̶i̶o̶n̶e̶d̶ ̶m̶i̶l̶l̶i̶o̶n̶a̶i̶r̶e̶
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Re: Book Care and Repair - Glue, Tape, Covers, Odours, etc.

Post by Boatbuilder »

This page might help, or alternatively try searching 'repairing old books'

https://www.wikihow.com/Repair-a-Book%27s-Binding" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I also came across this, which, if the book is valuable, might be worth considering and are not a million miles from you, IceMaiden:

http://www.chesterbookbinders.co.uk/book-repair/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
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Re: Book Care and Repair - Glue, Tape, Covers, Odours, etc.

Post by egoon »

Merged with an existing topic.


Good morning all
I have a number of old Enid Blyton books dating back to the 50/60s. All hardbacks (mostly without dust covers). What is the best way to give these a clean and spruce up? Is it just a case of warm soapy water and dry off immediately or should I be looking at something else to give them back a sparkle?
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Anita Bensoussane
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Re: Book Care and Repair - Glue, Tape, Covers, Odours, etc.

Post by Anita Bensoussane »

I don't have many old hardbacks but I have cleaned a few that were dusty. I began by brushing them with a soft brush (a blusher brush) to get the worst off and then got a damp soft cloth (damp rather than wet!) and rubbed it lightly over any surfaces that were still dusty or dirty. Dustwrappers were treated separately with a different blusher brush. I made sure the books were completely dry before putting them in the bookcase.
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Re: Book Care and Repair - Glue, Tape, Covers, Odours, etc.

Post by IceMaiden »

Be very careful rubbing the covers with a damp cloth. It can rub off the colour as I discovered when cleaning a Famous Five book and one of the News Chronicle Boys and Girls Storybook. The colour started smudging and coming off. Use a white cloth, just barely damp and go carefully. Don't press and don't rub at the same place for long either.
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I'm just an old fashioned girl with an old fashioned mind
Not sophisticated, I'm the sweet and simple kind
I want an old fashioned house, with an old fashioned fence
And A̶n̶ ̶o̶l̶d̶ ̶f̶a̶s̶h̶i̶o̶n̶e̶d̶ ̶m̶i̶l̶l̶i̶o̶n̶a̶i̶r̶e̶
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