Cover Reconstruction

We reconstruct a book's cover when two conditions exist: 1. on the outside, the spine of the book is torn and no longer intact, and 2. on the inside, the end sheets have torn or split and the book block is no longer attached securely to its cover.

In this circumstance, we have to first replace the spine, reattach the covers to it and then recase the book block in a new cover.

If the end sheets are only partially torn apart, we cut through them to separate the book block from the covers.

Next, we measure the book block and cover and gather the materials needed: new end sheets; spine cloth and paper; felt paper; linen or buckram cloth. For this book, we use buckram since the book is rather large and heavy.

Preparing the book block

We remove the old spine cloth and paper from the spine. If these do not lift or peel off easily, we may have to wet or soak them and scrape them off. Another method for doing this involves steaming the spines to loosen the old glue.

If some pages have torn loose from the book block, we reattach them. We usually do this by gluing them at the gutter edges. If many beginning pages are loose, it is sometimes possible to sew them onto the book block.

Once the book block is cleaned and repaired, we will glue on the new end sheets.

The book block will then be ready for recasing.