Book Cover Restorer Needed

[Jobu]

I have a vintage softcover book where a small piece has ripped off and I would like to have someone reattach it. I am guessing it will be a pretty quick job but have never done this before.

Does anyone have recommendations for places that do good work?

Thanks

[MooseDog]

Depends on what you want to pay...book restoration generally comes at a steep price and most generally only take work that will net the restorer a few hundred dollars or more as it's painstaking work.

For trivial repairs this place was actually pointed out to me by a librarian

https://www.thelibrarystore.com/category/archival-tape

[bgar3]

I agree with Moosedog’s reply. If you want something to preserve the piece, restore the look, and still be able to to a more permanent expensive fix later, I have used something called Archival Aids Document Repair Tape, which I I purchased about 20 years ago and still have plenty. It is non yellowing, neutral ph, reversible, transparent and cheap. My box says it was distributed by University Products in Massachusetts. I presume something similar can be found on the site Moosedog noted.

[Jobu]

Thanks guys.

The tape option seems like it is likely the way to go. Here is what I am dealing with, from the cover of a softcover book - the piece is about 1" across. Not major enough to want to spend several hundred dollars on.

I would definitely want something that could easily be removed later without causing damage, so I will investigate to see what the options for that are.

[Jobu]

Did some looking around based on comments, and I found this page to be pretty useful:

https://www.archivalmethods.com/blog/filmoplast-tapes/

Looks like the Filmoplast 90 Plus might be a good bet.

[bgar3]

I think the tape option would do nicely to preserve and look good. They may have even better stuff now, but I have been very happy with the results I have had.
FYI. I little trick I learned from old bookseller back in the 70’s for dealing with those annoying folded corners on pages without having them come off or break off is to moisten the crease, this will cause the corner to begin to come up off the page enough to gently push it safely into the correct position.

[steve B]

If you want removeable, you could try rice paste. That piece has enough of a bevel to the tear that it should adhere pretty well, and you could add a rice paper reinforcement.
The rice paste is removable if someone wants to do a pro restoration later. Which might be done with rice paste anyway...

http://eidolonhouse.com/chronicles/2...ce-wheat-paste

[Jobu]

Interesting. So this is basically taking a fine brush, painting the torn section as I would with glue, and then setting the piece on top with a light book to hold it in place while it dries? I would assume I would want to put some wax paper or something similar between the cover and the first page to keep them from sticking?

Originally Posted by steve B

If you want removeable, you could try rice paste. That piece has enough of a bevel to the tear that it should adhere pretty well, and you could add a rice paper reinforcement.
The rice paste is removable if someone wants to do a pro restoration later. Which might be done with rice paste anyway...

http://eidolonhouse.com/chronicles/2...ce-wheat-paste