Restoring Antique Books

August 19th, 2009 | Antique, Antique Books

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antiquebooks Maintaining the integrity of old books that are considered to be archives, historic or heirlooms can be a challenging task given the wide variety of elements and types of situations that are capable of causing damage to them. Fire, water, mold and smoke are all elements and situations that are capable of causing damage to books that are archived or historic if the proper level of prevention is not practiced in order to keep these books in worthwhile shape. Although much of what was once in print has been converted into an online format as a result of the digital age, there is still a great amount of value that comes from preserving the books that history has been built on.

Restoring antique books that have been in some way damaged is a unique and challenging task that is not impossible but may sometimes seem it. Depending on the severity of the damage, the type of binding and paper and other details, books are capable of being restored by way of freeze drying as well as vacuum drying methods. Both of these methods for restoring antique books is going to require professional services, meaning that you are going to want to work with a professional that understands how sensitive each of these methods is and how sensitive the books are to them.

When restoring a book that is damaged by water, it is recommended that the book be left in its original found condition. If the book was closed, do not open it. If it was open, do not close it. If there was coated paper on the book, then you can use wax paper between the pages. To store or move the books prior to treating them, pack them with their spines down in crates or boxes with freezer paper keeping individual books separated.

Mud and dirt should absolutely only be removed from the book if it has been allowed to dry fully. Do not use detergents or bleaches in order to clean the books. Dry the wet books using a fan. Do not use the sun. If you want to prevent mold and absorb extra moisture, you should use talcum powder or cornstarch. If the pages of the books are folded or wrinkles, then you need to wait until the book is at least partially dry before placing the book between two dry boards using a clamp or a vice for a period of at least 24 hours to allow for straightening of the pages.

If the delicacy and the detail involved in managing the restoration and drying of an old antique book seems too daunting for you, please find a service that can do the work for you. If you become overwhelmed by the process you may end up hurting the book sooner than helping it. Contact a professional immediately to find out what your options are and you may have better luck.

Photo Credits: Patrick Q

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