Part 1 of this series of articles covered the basic bookbinding instructions to repair loose and torn endpapers. This article covers loose sections in a multi-sectioned book. If your book has only one section, these instructions will still give you some answers - you'll just be finished your repair faster!
Sections refer to printed sheets folded to page size for binding together, with other such sheets, to form a book. Signatures are the letters or figures printed below the text at the foot of the first page of each section.
Pulling - separating the sections from the original binding - should be done with the least possible damage to the folds of the sections.
1. Open the front cover of your book and the front flyleaf if it has one.
2. Press firmly on the body of your book and pull the cover and flyleaf away from your book until the mull (the open weave material used to reinforce the spine) and the tapes or cords are visible.
3. Cut these carefully with a sharp knife. Repeat the process for the back cover and then the cover should be free from your book.
4. Remove as much of the back lining mull and glue as possible. If there is still a lot of old glue remaining, place your book between two pieces of waste hard cardboard with about 1/2" of your book protruding. Cover the spine with a thick coating of paste and leave it to stand for 10 minutes - this will allow the old lining and glue to soften. Scrape off the old glue and lining with the back of a knife and leave to dry completely.
5. Turn over the first pages of your book until you come to the first stitches of sewing thread. Cut all the stitches with a sharp knife. Turn over the same number of pages and you should see the signature at the bottom of the right hand page which indicates it is the first page of the next section.
6. Close the first section, grip it firmly in your left hand, press down on your book with your right hand and pull the section away from your book gently.
7. Remove any glue and thread from the back of the section and place it face downwards on your work surface. Repeat this process for all the remaining sections, keeping them in their correct order.
8. The outside sections of your book may have a crease from the original backing in their folds - this is known as the old groove and should be removed before you begin repairing the sections. Place the section on a hard smooth surface and tap the fold fairly hard with a hammer. A few sections can be done at the one time depending on the type of paper. It is safer to start in the middle of the section and move it.
9. Sections with back folds that are torn or separated can now be repaired with "guards". Check the grain direction of the page to be repaired and cut a strip of paper 1/2" wide and 1 1/2" longer than the page to be repaired.
10. Paste the strip on one side and pinch the ends together with the paste side inwards. (This stops the strip from curling up).
11. Place the strip in the centre of a sheet of waste paper and then place the back of the damaged page along half the strip.
12. Lift the waste paper so that the other half of the strip is placed on the page and press down through the waste paper.
13. Allow the paste to dry completely then trim off the excess guards exactly level with the top and bottom of the pages.
14. When all your guarding repair work is complete, collate the book making sure the sequence of signatures is correct.
15. The sections of your book can now be sewn (covered in another article) and your book can be rebound (also covered in another article).
Single pages can also be repaired with guarding and then returned to your book by tipping in (a thin line of glue at the spine edge).
Kim Baillie
No comments:
Post a Comment