How to Reattach a Leather Book Board: Quick Fix
You will learn how to quickly reattach a leather book board with this easy preservation method. This fix is not meant to solve every problem (meaning it is not a full restoration). Instead we are going to save the loose board so that it is attached and won’t go astray from the rest of the book. The basic idea is to create a new inner hinge without covering up original materials. The final step, to create an archival polyester film protective cover is a different course: 6-101: Create a Mylar Cover for a Book with Weak Hinges. This will protect and preserve the book until such time as a full restoration is required. This is indeed a quick fix for a loose board.
Click the ^Curriculum^ Tab to get to the Lesson
Included in This Lesson:
- Type of Book: Hollow-back or Tight-back, Tight-joint, Leather Spine, Cloth-Joint, Marbled End-papers. The text-block is tight and whole rather than loose or falling apart.
- This Particular Book: 1872 McKenney’s History of the Indian Tribes of North America
- Issue: A board has come loose from the rest of the book. The case-spine is still attached to the text-spine by a paper hollow. For more information on terminology refer to Book Anatomy 101.
- Treatment: Create a new inner hinge with Japanese tissue and paste. Optionally: create a protective archival polyester film cover.
- 10 Minutes of Video
- Step by Step Instructions
PERPETUAL CAVEAT: Never repair rare and/or scarce books. When in doubt only do preservation treatments and consult an accredited professional.
Reattach a Leather Book Board: Simplified Steps
- Gather Tools and Materials
- Remove Fly-leaf
- Clean Inner Hinge area
- Attach New Inner Hinge
- Replace Fly-leaf
- Attach the New Inner Hinge to the Loose Board
- 6-101: Create an Archival Polyester Film Protective Cover
The lesson contains all the details.
When you have finished this first course on reattaching a book board you might consider these courses:
Leave A Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.
2 Comments
Where can I obtain the Nori tape used in this demonstration? I have the paste but cannot find the tape anywhere.
I am not sure what you mean. Nori tape is not a thing. In this course, I am suggesting using Japanese tissue like Sekishu with the paste to create a new hinge.
I hope that helps.