Thread: Book Binding an old Paper Back

Hello All,

I have a paperback book that was published back in 1961. The book forms the main basis of my dissertation so it is pretty important to me.

The eight pages have come away from the spin along with the front cover and I would like to do more than try and stick it back together using Aquadhere.

I did a book binding course decades ago for hardback books. Back then the procedure was to place all the pages - without the front and back cover, into a clamp with the spine up. The spine was positioned about three Centimetres proud of the spine. A fret saw or a similar fine bladed saw was used to cut a slot deep enough for three or four lengths of cotton thread to go into the slot at the top of width of the spine. The ends of the thread went at a 90 degree angle once it reached the front and back of the pages. This was done at regular intervals along the spine and the threads were glued in place.

Once this was done a layer of cotton sheet or calico a couple of centimetres wider than the spine was glued in place. The glue was only placed along the top of the spine. Once the glue was dry the book was removed from the clamp. The front and back covers were positioned on the unglued hinge formed by the oversize material and the hinge flap was glued in place along a strip of the each of the front and back cover. This was placed inside the covers. Once this was dry a slightly smaller piece of marbled paper was glued on the inside of the front and back cover to cover the cloth hinge. A black cloth material that is adhesive was stuck on the back, or outside face of the book spine, with a slight overlap on the front and back cover. This meant the original writing on the spine was covered up.

Has book binding progressed since I was first taught this technique? If so how could I keep the pages together, fix the cover back on and retain the publishers printing on the spine. I could try and remove the paperback's spine strip with the print it on and then glue this to the new spine as described above?

A description of any new techniques will be much appreciated.

I am rather attached to this old book. It is older than me and even then I bought it second-hand via eBay from the US of A. It was an old library book that has passed through lots of hands. It was retired from the library then some time latter I bought it. The old book needs all the TLC I can give it.

Kind Regards
Lionel

Hi Lionel , good luck getting your book fixed . Sorry I can't be of any help . I would like to give a word of advice though . Some years ago I was in Singapore , I had a paperback that I was reading by the hotel pool . Due to the heat and humidity the glue started to melt , and the pages fell out . Fortunately this paperback had on real value to me . Jim