Don't Send Me Your Heirloom Bibles

This would make a good phrase for a bookbinder’s t-shirt, my instructor informed us at at a course I took on everyday book repair today at the San Francisco Center for The Book. The operative word for what we were learning to do was repair, not restoration, hence no heirlooms. For practice I arrived with several not-so-valuable books and sketchbook journals which we proceeded to operate on using wheat paste and PVA glue, Japanese tissue paper, and book cloth. (There was a time when I was doing a lot of notetaking on these hardbound artists’ journals commonly found in the art department of campus bookstores. What I’ve learned over the years is that although the textblock paper is quite good, the case binding falls apart quite readily with moderate use, hence the need for repairs.) I rebacked two of these journals, and reglued the cover of an ancient copy of the National Geographic bird guide. It was a successful day, and I’m now not afraid of diving into repair projects on ordinary, well-used books that are simply starting to fall apart. But first I need some Japanese tissue!