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Sunday, June 14, 2015

Info Post
By April Briggs


Refurbishing a treasured heirloom book is a delicate and precise process. When you are considering a family bible for this work, then the hope is to have even more care. Because these volumes are often many years old, they are usually quite fragile and fade in too much light. There are highly skilled craftsmen who know how to do this work properly. Contacting your local bookbinder is the way to begin.

Though some companies use cheaper ways to repair bibles, nothing compares to the quality of work that is completed by hand. Book binding is a highly precise skill using tools developed for hundreds of years. It is this fine level of care that bible restoration Grand Rapids professionals have to offer.

It might be tempting to try to fix pages that are ripped with household glue or tape. But this is something you should never try. The modern chemicals are not good for the older materials inside antique bibles. They need to have acid free substances applied using the time honored techniques for restoration work of this kind.

Almost every heirloom book was originally hand sewn. So it is very important to have any covers and pages stitched again with appropriate needles and thread. The pages on a book that is assembled this way will open easily and lay flat for reading. When cheap glues are used instead, the books will eventually tear or rip and never stay opened correctly.

There are reputable and caring companies located throughout Grand Rapids, MI who pride themselves on providing excellent restorations of family bibles. They use technical expertise passed down through the generations, where grandparents teach parents, who then teach their children. It takes years serving as an apprentice to develop the skills required to complete these exacting methods.

It is quite common for bibles to have leather covers. These are made from a variety of natural leathers, which must be appropriately cured, stained and prepared for use. The detailed imprints and designs are of the highest artistry. When a damaged or worn family book such as this needs restoration, it requires an artistic eye to match new materials with old. Applying colors that match and fixing stitches that are broken is best done by someone who has been doing it for years.

There are many more parts inside a high quality bible than might be expected. Cloth sections serve to secure pages and create strong spines. Handmade papers made with elegant colorful dyes are often featured inside. It might seem as if the damage is beyond control. But, careful cleaning to remove insect debris, dust and dirt can often start a successful restoration project, even for severely damaged items.

Wear and tear on old treasured volumes varies widely. Damage can be as little as few torn pages or more extensive with mold and insect bites. It is important to have someone with the right experience evaluate what kind of work is required, regardless of the time and cost. Every generation that will enjoy keeping it will appreciate having the family history kept in a lovely restored bible.




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