Ironing Paperback Spines

I frequently receive vintage paperbacks where the spine glue has separated from the text block (probably due to reading-wear) and then frozen/dried in a lumpy uneven way that keeps the spine from laying flat.

My usual answer to this problem (if the book is worth it) is to pull off the cover, scrape as much of the old glue away as possible and then reapply the cover with binder’s adhesive. This isn’t a bad method but if the glue is still hard enough you risk damaging the spine.

I was wondering if it would be possible to soften the glue with heat so you could smooth and reflatten it.

I just experimented with my iron on medium heat with a paper towel protecting the book.

I had to gradually up the heat until the glue softened and then I could mold it with my fingers and smooth it down with my bone folder.

Here was the result:

I think it was reasonably successful.

The problem with learning a technique like this is that you immediately feel guilty about all the past patients you lost that you didn’t have to. I’m sure Jonas Salk felt the same way.

Warning: If you try this technique, start out on worthless books until you find the right heat level and I WOULD NOT attempt this on vintage paperbacks with laminated covers (Dell Mapbacks for instance) ~~unless you first remove the laminate (which is probably half-peeled off anyway)~~.

UPDATE: Turns out you an use an iron to reaffix the laminate as well (thanks to Gary Lovisi of Paperback Parade for the tip)! For laminate fixing, start at a lower temp that needed for the spine, again use a paper towel for protection, and iron from the middle to the edge of a book (or else you might iron a wrinkle in). I’ve done this a few times and it can greatly improve the appearance of a book.

Dirty Business Card

Sounds like the draft and farm horses were the only things that were “high class” at this Clintonville, Wisconsin establishment.

Business Card: Front/Back

High-Five Fridays #11

#1. Bookthink reports on the Wikipedia effort to include first edition points for collectible books together with the author entries.

#2. There may be some kind of meme implosion here but Collector’s Quest had a great “Thursday 13” post on retro kitsch items that you want to collect but can’t because they were too damn fragile. I want a hobby wall panel.

#3. Stunning bookshelf, the “Library Dechirico” from studio Made 75. Happily (unlike most of the bookshelves I’ve seen talked-up recently that hold about two volumes or place books in gratingly inappropriate places like the bathroom) this shelf unit is functional and interestingly modular. Unfortunately I’m less enthusiastic about the flash heavy website so I can’t say if/where the shelf is available for purchase. Link via The Blog on the Bookshelf.

#4. Bookseller and blogger J. Godsey sells a wide variety of book restoration supplies and, through the Sic Press, the essential Unbound: Book Repair for Booksellers which has become my new 36-page saddle-stitched Bible. I almost can’t wait to find up a book with uneven dyeing, crayon scribbles or a loose signature.

#5. And because I’m tired of thinking, a sexy film montage of classic starlets in silk stockings. Vintage Girly Mags.

Find out how to give your High-Five Fridays here!

The purpose of this meme is to give high-fives to 5 people, posts, blogs and/or websites you’ve admired during the week. I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 5 high-fives on Friday. Trackbacks, pings, linky widgets, comment links accepted!
Visiting fellow High-Fivers is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your High-Fives in others comments (please note if NWS).

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Pulp is flowing once again

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Understudy for Love (Newsstand Library U170) 1961 AUTHOR: Charles Willeford ARTIST: Robert Bonfils, originally uploaded by Hang Fire Books.

I beat my scanner into submission and cleared my backed-up covers. Lots of great new additions to the Pulp Fiction Cover Gallery. (Including the ultra rare Charles Willeford pictured above).

Plus here are some artist links into the cover set, my inventory and a bio page (where available) to provide another way of browsing:

James Avati: Flickr – Bio – Buy
Rudolph Belarski: Flickr – Bio – Buy
Gene Bilbrew: Flickr – Bio – Buy
Robert Bonfils: Flickr – Bio – Buy
Rafael DeSoto: Flickr – Buy
Ed Emshwiller: Flickr – Bio – Buy
Jack Gaughan: Flickr – Bio – Buy
Mitchell Hooks: Flickr – Buy
Ray Johnson: Flickr – Buy
Robert Maguire: Flickr – Bio – Buy
Barye Phillips: Flickr – Buy
Paul Rader: Flickr – Buy

Harry Schaare: Flickr – Buy

Eric Stanton: Flickr – Bio – Buy
Ron Turner: Flickr – Bio – Buy
Wally Wood: Flickr – Bio – Buy
Stanley Zuckerberg: Flickr – Buy

These are mostly permalinks for me but I thought I’d make them a public resource. I’ll put this post in the “popular posts” section at right if you want to see new additions from these artists.

Enjoy!

Indiana "Harmful to Minors" Bookstore Registration Law

By Rachel Deahl — Publishers Weekly, 3/25/2008 8:39:00 AM

The American Booksellers Foundation for Free Expression (ABFFE) has blasted a new Indiana law that requires bookstores to register with the government if they sell what is considered “sexually explicit materials.” The new law, H.B. 1042, was signed by Governor Mitch Daniels on March 13, and calls for any bookseller that sells sexually explicit materials to register with the Secretary of State and provide a statement detailing the types of books to be sold. The Secretary of State must then identify those stores to local government officials and zoning boards. “Sexually explicit material” is defined as any product that is “harmful to minors” under existing law. There is a $250 registration fee. Failure to register is a misdemeanor.

ABFFE spokesman Chris Finan said the law is the only one of its kind currently on the books in the country. Calling it “clearly unconstitutional,” Finan said ABFFE will urge the Media Coalition to challenge the law at the organization’s next meeting on April 9. H.B. 1042 does not go into effect until July, by which time Finan is hopeful the lawsuit will be filed and an injunction issued by the court.”

Padded Case Bible Restoration, Part 1

A customer was recently referred to me who needed restoration done on a family Bible. I told him I would take a look, but I don’t have the equipment to do a complete rebind so I might have to refer him further.

The Bible in question is a padded case, faux-leather job from the 50s-early 60s. The cover was completely separated with two large secondary chips. The endpapers are made of vinyl and printed with biblical scenes. They can’t be separated from the boards without destroying both. I told him I would attempt to reattach the cover and if it didn’t take he would be in pretty much the some situation with the Bible requiring a full rebind.

I lived with the book for a few days not sure how to start. It weighs 7-8 pounds and just reattaching the free endpaper to the text block and closing up the split wouldn’t make for a strong enough repair.

I finally had a 4am “Eureka!” moment.

I cut 3 thin strips of Tyvek (the tearproof fibrous material used for priority mail envelopes) and, using binders adhesive, I made small pockets on the ends where I could insert my microspatula. Then I coated bottom couple of inches with more adhesive and pushed the tyvek down into narrow slits that I had made in the hollow tube behind the spine.

Now I had three tails that I could use to anchor the cover. So I applied more adhesive, carefully aligned the sections, and inserted the free tabs between the split layers of the cover, adherring them to the board.

This makes for a very strong repair. I’m not sure of the archival properties of tyvek, but–to be honest–not much about this particular Bible was built to last, so I couldn’t do any harm.

The next step is to carefully “knit” the split back together, disguising it as much as possible. Here’s the start:

Once it’s closed there will still be some unsightly missing chips/flakes, so I ordered an assortment of leathers dyes to color the exposed seam.

But that’s for Part 2.

Book CSI: Crunchy Goodness

I’ve been a champion for the use of recycled packing materials for a while now. As long as it’s clean and provide the necessary protection, I appreciate thrift and resourcefulness in packaging.

It had to happen though…I just received books in the proverbial cereal box

While undoubtedly nutritious “Go Lean CRUNCH!” provides little to no impact or crush protection.

Thankfully when I buy books I usually only want one or two of them and the rest of the lot is padding by proxy.

A little hicksploitation

We don’t have cable so I’m always a bit behind the curve on the pop culture phenoms. This isn’t so bad as without MTV, I can still enjoy songs that are probably thoroughly played-out.

So lately Alice and I have been obsessed with R. Kelly’s Trapped in the Closet on IFC.com (okay, well I’ve been obsessed and I browbeat Alice into watching it with me). There’s some guilt involved though as IFC makes it into a freakshow . . . but I’m telling you Kelly is hip-hop’s Ed Wood in the best possible sense.

Anyway, this Kanye West video squares it for me karmically….And it co-stars Will Oldham of Palace Music and Matewan!

…and more hicksploitation.

Bourgeoise Dreams

I woke up this morning thinking I’d heard a loud dripping all night.

I remember getting up and trying to turn it off but I couldn’t and figuring that another of our faucets must have mysteriously blown out.

This is the most mundane nightmare I’ve ever had. Alice says that now I’ve become part of “the problem” and soon I’ll wake up with night sweats over the prime interest rate.

High-Five Fridays #10

Back on the horse after a week of creeping Windows issues. My scanner is still acting like it doesn’t know me but at least I can blog.

Here’s some things I was lucky enough to be able to read this week.

#1. Discovery of the Original Mile High Collection: Chuck Rozanski’s multi-part epic about his acquisition of the “Mile High Comic Collection”, an extremely hi-grade collection of nearly every comic published between 1938-1958. He includes lots of personal detail like living in his ’63 Chevy Impala while traveling between comic conventions make money for college tuition, Mile High Comics, link via BoingBoing.

#2. Disturbingly, eerily, brain-burningly cute dog picture: Trust me on this. I don’t do “cute” very often, Flickr user Marcus.

#3. Do It Yourself Pasties and the Burlesque Handbook at School of Burlesque.

#4. Some Tips for Ad Image Design: Banner design philosophy and how to catch eyeballs with correctly timed animation. Great information. Use it only for good. Nora O’Neill at The Bookshop Blog.

#5. The 9 Most Annoying People I Always See at the Bookstore: Grating types that always turn up at the chain stores. Must admit that I’m frequently guilty of “couch sitting”. I spent way too many years wearing the paper hat at B&N. They owe me. Bookgasm

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