When the stitching has not broken, and the paper is of good quality a
book may be removed entirely from its cover and recased.
In recasing, painstaking care is required and books must be in condition
specified to obtain satisfactory results.
Take a sharp knife and cut through the super at both joints. This
super is easily lifted from the inside of the book cover. Pull it
off the back of the book, taking great care in this, and remove all
particles of dried glue.
Take white outing flannel, which is light in weight and
double-faced, or canton flannel (downy side towards the book), or
cheesecloth. Cut a strip as long as the back of the book and two
inches wider; paste this over the back only, allowing an inch
extension on each side. Do not, in this first process, put paste on
the extensions. Draw the cloth over the rounded edges of the back
(or joints); rub the back well with bone folder and also over the
rounded edges, but do not paste the cloth down beyond the rounded
edges. During this process hold the back of the book so that the
sections, or signatures, will not separate. After thorough rubbing
let dry.
Apply paste to inside of book covers one inch next to the joints; do
not put paste on back of book. Place book in cover, pushing well
back, making sure that it is correctly placed. Paste down the
one-inch extension of cloth, laying waste paper between it and book;
close book, rub joints well with bone folder and allow to dry
thoroughly.
Strip joints, following instructions for re-inforcing; paste clean
paper lining on book covers, press and dry. The book should then be
opened as carefully as a new book.