In response to Steve Frank's query, Michael Sullivan submitted these thoughts on leather bindings.
-Editor
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:
I've used RenWax on my leather covered books, as it can be used for this, besides coins or other artifacts.
To read the earlier E-Sylum article, see:
QUERY: RESTORING LEATHER BOOK COVERS
(www.coinbooks.org/esylum_v13n28a12.html)
Wayne Homren, Editor
The Numismatic Bibliomania Society is a non-profit organization
promoting numismatic literature. See our web site at coinbooks.org.
To submit items for publication in The E-Sylum, write to the Editor
at this address: whomren@gmail.com
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