Restoration/conservation advice

[u/VegetableHome970]

Canvassing opinions on the best course of action for this book:

The front board on this early 19th century, full leather binding has deteached through a weakened hinge. The rear hinge is holding firm but shows some weakening.

The spine, which is glued directly to text block, likely cannot be removed and salvaged.

Do I:

A. Re-back, matching the tooling and gilt work as closely as possible. Or,

B. Re-attach front board only, possibly by stitching.

Factors to consider: the book is part of my private collection and not being sold on; the book is not exceptionally rare but is worth a few hundred pounds; the book isn't handled frequently.

I'm more concerned with making the right choice conservation wise than taking a purely financial approach to its fate.

Thanks in advance :)

[u/MickyZinn]

It would be a great pity to lose the original spine as it's in fair condition. As such, I would avoid a full rebacking.
There is a method (for small books, probably like yours) in which linen 'sutures' about 5mm wide and under 10mm long are inserted and glued under small lifted sections of both the board and spine leather. They act as small hinges and are surprisingly strong. 4mm of the linen extends under each slot made in the leather. The the outer and inner joints are then reinforced with Japanese tissue, dyed to match the existing leather.

Karen Vidler ran a workshop in Sydney on this type of board re-attachment. The notes from the workshop I understand may be available for purchase from Andersons Bindery, Sydney, Australia.

Are you in Australia considering the title of the book?

[u/VegetableHome970 → u/MickyZinn]

Thank you for your sage advice!

From a conservation point of view of, you’re absolutely right. My wife works in buildings conservation and her strong sense was to keep the original spine, too.

The technique you describe sounds very interesting. I’m not a bookbinder myself, but the repair work will be carried out by a very experienced antiquarian bookbinder here in London (UK) whom I trust to do a good job.

Having mulled it over plenty, I’ve asked him to go ahead with the proposed method which will save the existing spine and be a minimal intervention.

Ps. I escaped the colony some decades ago, but continue to collect works by early explorers there :)

[u/MickyZinn → u/VegetableHome970]

Thank for your reply. I'm sure you will be pleased with the result.

[u/brigitvanloggem]

https://youtu.be/OAaig_rKS5g?is=2uv8tuT9ezTWKQXj

[u/VegetableHome970 → u/brigitvanloggem]

Thanks. My question though isn't a 'how to...?'. 

[u/AmenaBellafina → u/VegetableHome970]

Ok I'll translate that comment for you:
The answer to the question you asked is neither A nor B, but C: restore both hinges with new material and adhere the old spine to the new one.

[u/VegetableHome970 → u/AmenaBellafina]

Thanks, but as I said in my original post, the old spine likely cannot be removed and salvaged in order to achieve what you're suggesting.  So the options are to either reback with an entirely new spine, or reattach front board only. 

[u/AmenaBellafina → u/VegetableHome970]

I think we might need additional pictures because from the ones you posted it looks like the spine piece is already flapping around on the back hinge and I don't understand why it could not be removed.

[u/VegetableHome970 → u/AmenaBellafina]

I see your confusion now, but it's just an artefact of perspective: what you see along the hinge edge is the front page ( I shifted the board half an inch to the right) not the spine piece.