ON RESTORING LEATHER BOOK COVERS

A bookbinder who specializes in RESTORATION (critical point) could recolor the leather assuming the material has not dried out. Once the leather dries out, rebinding is a much better long-term solution.

Regarding the risk of light exposure to one's collection, I have taken numerous precautions to ensure the important and rare 19th century literature in my collection is protected from any sunlight exposure including bookcase placement and archival acid-free storage boxes.

Most recently I went one step further and had a variety of windows in my house covered with ceramic film. The film eliminates 99% of the UV light (high risk), reduces heat in the house (go green), and is removable in the future.

Unlike older films which simultaneously made the house interior dark, the newer high-tech films only reduce light and color contrast by roughly 10% .....hardly noticeable after a couple of days. A 6-foot by 4-foot window cost roughly $300 to cover, which is much less than the cost to repair a single leather binding.

So ...... a bit of prevention can be a great investment.

Kim Ghobrial adds:

To read the earlier E-Sylum article, see: QUERY: RESTORING LEATHER BOOK COVERS (www.coinbooks.org/esylum_v13n28a12.html)

Wayne Homren, Editor

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