Dec 16, 2015
Museum Librarian for Preservation Mindell Dubansky looks at some dubious book repair practices of times past.
“It is the most consulted and loved books that require repair, sometimes over and over again, and it is always upsetting when one of our favorite books become damaged. Yet few books have had the luxury of receiving professional conservation treatment or caring home repair. This post reflects on some of the classic, creative, and shocking repair styles characteristic of historic home and library repairs. Although contemporary conservators and binders no longer condone these techniques, they provide interesting evidence of past solutions for the repair of books. “