The Book Restoration New Jersey Professionals Offer Gives Old Volumes New Life

By Donald Morris


Book lovers, who are lucky enough to own their favorites instead of borrowing them from the library, often like to show them off in bookcases and shelves. A lot of these individuals especially treasure those that are handed down from generation to generation. Most don't know whether or not their collectibles are valuable and, over time, many deteriorate. In order to keep them from getting beyond repair, owners turn to the kind of book restoration New Jersey professionals offer.

Before beginning any work on a old volume, a good restorer will closely examine it and do whatever research is necessary to establish value in its current condition and what it might be worth after restoring. Many restorers can evaluate the item from a photograph. Once evaluated, the restorer can give the owner advice about whether the volume is worth restoring and what the cost would be to do the work.

Sometimes books come into shops in such bad shape that not much can be done with them. This is true in the case of a volume with a leather cover suffering from dry rot. If the fabric falls off at the touch, it can't realistically be salvaged. There are some restorers who suggest a chemical substance that may harden the leather temporarily, but others prefer not to do that much. No reputable restorer will alter markings or recondition a work in such a way that it actually reduces the value.

Leather that has not rotted may be conditioned, touched up and returned to pristine shape. Interior pages can be fragile and will deteriorate without care. Torn pages can be repaired using special tape that disappears if it is applied correctly. Even pages with missing pieces can be restored using paper from comparably aged volumes or new paper specially milled to replicate old tissue.

Dirty, stained pages are something restorers see all the time as well. There are specific techniques they use to improve the look of these pages. It does not normally include cleaning with water however. Most of the time, the paper is not of sufficient quality to spend the time and money it would take to remove the pages, which may be glued or sewn into the bindings.

Restorers can mend old cloth covers and touch up the colors with special dyes. They may put matching cloth under the original material to repair it. Depending on the extent of its damage, the results can be very impressive. Many restorers do not recommend that the old techniques of gluing and sewing bindings be used. These professionals prefer to use newer methods to give the pages more flexibility.

Most professional restorers recommend that truly valuable and rare books, requiring old technology, be taken to individuals who specialize in them. Owners can contact university libraries that have rare book collections for references and referrals. There are also special techniques used for rare and family bibles.

Displaying treasured books on shelves, tables, and bookcases can be a great decorative element in a room. Restoring the volumes handed down by ancestors is a great way to preserve a family's past for future generations. Putting them in the hands of proven professionals is the best way to ensure their preservation.




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