THE BOOK-LOVER’S CREED.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17188, 3 November 1923, Page 9 (Supplement)

THE BOOK-LOVER’S CREED.

A noted bookbinder who cares very much how his books are treated after they leave bis hands, is eloquent on the subject of the vandalism displayed towards newly-bound volumes. A book that is mishandled in the first instance can never recover, yet even the ardent l.nokfover may ho entirely ignorant of the proper wav in which to treat a freshly acquired treasure. If you want a book to wear well, whether it is luxuriously bound or not. you must he exceedingly careful how you open it on the first occasion. To hold a portion cf the leaves in either hand and press the book open will inevitably break the threads that hold the back together. The leaves will loosen and The binding boards will separate from the back.

The proper way to open a new book is to rest the back on a table acd then gently press one cover alter the other downwards to meet the table. A few leaves at a time should then be pressed down and the process repeated until the whole is supple and any page may be laid open without stiffness. The freshly bound book is unseasoned : therefore. when placed in the bookcase, it will benefit bv being kept firm bv books on cither side of it. This will help to consolidate the binding. The same result is attained by keeping a new book for a couple of months under a small pile of other volumes. it is a mistake to place the bookcase in a position where the rays of the sun fall directly upon it. ITeat wili not only harden and crack the glue and paste in binding, but will cause a leather binding to perish, the sulfate flaking and crumbling until the whole becomes incapable ot gripping the eon tents. A very strong light is bad for the binding. Tt takes the colour out of tlv* linen and discolours the vellum or calf employed. Though the closed in l>ookcase with glass doors may preserve the volumes from rlust. it also excludes air. The open bookcase, placed in a shaded position, is infinitely better. Books must h’.eatlie if they are to keep healthy.