Book Repairs

A typical problem: The hinge is broken and the backing is weak. New lining is required to hold the book's form.

A poultice of wheat paste is applied to soften the old animal glue. Left to soak and then gently scraped off.

Japanese Washi paper is pasted to the spine to allow removal of the repair at a later date.

Headbands are washed and refixed with a bookmark ribbon.

This bible had been varnished to hide the gold leaf

Careful experimentation with a range od cleaners found that anionic solvent worked best

Cotton buds were used to apply the solvent and then to clean it off with deionised water

The book was not sufficiently valuable to warrent full restoration, just a workaman-like repair.