Bookbinding

Restoration

Most people are surprised to find that their sad, bedraggled and damaged books can often times be restored back to their intended beauty.

I feel grateful in that through my work at the Library, and in my personal work, I have had the opportunity to work on some very interesting books. Some of these were completely charming books with great historic and sentimental value. True to the axiom, “Never judge a book by its cover”, there have been times when perhaps the outside of a book itself isn’t all that distinguished, but when it has been taken apart, I will find materials–used or notes written that are amazing to me. Old engravings which have been used as a spine liner, hand-written notes underneath the book cloth, old advertisements, shirtwaist-fabric made into glued-on headbands and the like now give a completely new dimension and history to this book, aside from the content itself. I feel like an archeologist going on a dig while I decipher the materials-used and the original sewing structures.

With all of this being said, I feel a responsibility to say that in many cases, a truly rare book is best left alone to ensure the value of its original integrity. In these instances I prefer to build a custom-made box to the actual repair of such a book. The new box will stabilize the book and protect it from dust, light and possible mishandling, keeping it safe for centuries more.