Bookbinding and The Care of Books
Douglas Cockerell with Drawings by Noel Rooke and other
Illustrations New York 1902
Bookbinding Chapter IV Part 2
WASHING
of its well-known inflammable and anæsthetical properties.
When there are stains or ink marks on books that cannot be removed by the
use of hot size or hot water, stronger measures may sometimes have to be
taken. Many stains will be found to yield readily to hot water with a little
alum in it, and others can be got out by a judicious application of curd soap
with a very soft brush and plenty of warm water. But some, and especially
ink stains, require further treatment. There are many ways of washing paper,
and most of those in common use are extremely dangerous, and have in many
cases resulted in the absolute destruction of fine books. If it is thought to be
absolutely necessary that the sheets of a book should be washed, the safest
method is as follows:-Take an ounce of permanganate of potash dissolved in
a quart of water, and warmed slightly. In this put the sheets to be washed,
and leave them until they turn a dark brown. This will usually take about an
hour, but may take longer for some papers. Then turn the sheets out and
wash them in running water until all trace of purple stain disappears from the
water as it comes away. Then transfer them to a bath of sulphurous (not
sulphuric) acid and water in the proportion of one ounce of acid to one pint
of water. The sheets int his solution will rapidly turn white, and if left for
some time nearly all stains will be removed. In case any stains refuse to come
out, the sheets should be put in clear water for a short time, and then placed
in the permanganate of potash solution again, and left there for a longer time
than before; then after washing in clear water, again transferred to the
sulphurous acid. When sheets are removed from the sulphurous acid they
should be well washed for an hour or two in running water, and then may be
blotted or squeezed off and hung up on lines to dry. Any sheets treated in
this way will require sizing afterwards. And if, as is often the case, only a few
sheets at the beginning or end of the book have to be washed, it will be
necessary to tone down the washed sheets to match the rest of the book by
putting some stain in the size. For staining there are many things used. A
weak solution of permanguanate of potash gives a yellowish stain that will be
found to match many papers. Other stains are used, such as coffee, chicory,
tea, liquorice, &c. Whatever is used should be put in the size. To ascertain
that the right depth of colour has been obtained, a piece of unsized paper,
such as white blotting-paper, is dipped in the stained size and blotted off and
dried before the fire. It is impossible to judge of the depth of colour in a
stain unless the test piece is thoroughly dried. If the stain is not right, add
more water or more stain as is needed. Experience will tell what stain to use
to match the paper of any given book.
To remove grease or oil stains, ether may be used. Pour it freely in a circle
round the spot, narrowing the circle gradually until the stain is covered.
Then apply a warm iron through a piece of blotting paper.
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