Bookbinding and The Care of Books
Librarians by Douglas Cockerell with Drawings
by Noel Rooke and other Illustrations
New York
1902
Book binding Chapter XX
Part 3
investigations to a practical conclusion in specific
terms, viz. by the suggestion of standards of
quality. It is evident that in the majority of cases,
there is little fault to find with the practical
adjustments which rule the trade. They are,
therefore, satisfied to limit their specific findings
to the following, viz., Normal standard of quality
for book papers required for publications of
permanent 'Value. For such papers they would
specify as follows :
-Fibers. Not less than 70 per cent. of fibers of
-Sizing. Not more than 2. percent rosin, and finished with the normal acidity of pure alum.
-Loading. Not more than 10 per cent. total mineral matter (ash).
"With regard to written documents, it must be evident that the proper materials are those of
Class A, and that the paper should be pure, and sized with gelatin, and not with rosin. All
imitations of high-class writing papers, which are, in fact, merely disguised printing papers,
should be carefully avoided."
PASTE
To make paste for covering books, &c., take 2. oz. of flour, and ¼ oz. of powdered alum, and
well mix with enough water to form a thin paste, taking care to break up any lumps. Add a pint
of cold water, and heat gently in an enameled saucepan. As it becomes warm, it should be stirred
from time to time, and when it begins to boil it should be continually stirred for about five
minutes. It should then form a thick paste that can be thinned with warm water. Of course any
quantity can be made if the proportions are the same.
Paste for use is best kept in a wooden trough, called a "paste tub," The paste tub will need to
be cleaned out from time to time, and all fragments of dry paste removed. This can easily be
done if it is left, overnight, filled with water. Before using, the paste should be well F beaten up
with a flat stick.
For pasting paper, it should have about the consistency and smoothness of cream; for leather,
it can be thicker. For very thick leather a little thin glue may be added. Paste made with alum will
keep about a fortnight, but can be kept longer by the addition of corrosive sublimate in the
proportion of one part of corrosive sublimate to a thousand parts of paste. Corrosive sublimate,
being a deadly poison, will prevent the attack of bookworms or other insects, but for the same
reason must only be used by responsible people, and paste in which it is used must be kept out
of the way of domestic animals. Several makes of excellent prepared paste can be bought in
London. These pastes are as cheap as can be made, and keep good a long time.
Paste that has become sour should never be used, as there is danger that the products of its acid
fermentation may injure the leather. Paste tubs as sold often have an iron bar across them to
wipe the brush on. This should be removed, and replaced by a piece of twisted cord. Paste
brushes should be bound with string or zinc; copper or iron will stain the paste.
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