conservethis:woozymoose:conservethis:recoleta2015:Here’s an interesting binding. There’s an 1823 Are
conservethis:woozymoose:conservethis:recoleta2015:Here’s an interesting binding. There’s an 1823 Arequipa imprint on a pamphlet bound with the primary text, which I’ll try to identify later. Although printing began in Peru in 1584, it all occurred in Lima until national independence in 1821. The first Arequipa imprint is in the same year. The heavy grime suggests repeated study–the darker the area, the greater the use. For such a thick book, the spine is in great shape and is remarkably resilient.Cool books but for god’s sake use a book cradle with that last one. SUPPORT THE SPINE, PEOPLE! AND DON’T DROP THE BOARDS! ONLY YOU CAN PREVENT BOOK DAMAGE!Agreed! I often encounter folks who aren’t using a cradle because they just don’t have one. Any suggestions for DIY/inexpensive/makeshift cradle options? Or, best sources for commercially available cradles?Cheapest, simplest idea: get a pillow, put the book on the pillow, place something (bricks, tupperware filled with something heavy like gravel, a piece of thick wood) underneath the pillow at each side to create a gentle “v” shape and lift the up the boards. You can also use a thickly folded length of fabric, a blanket, or some other material, to create little pillows on either side of the book, and maybe also a roll of fabric underneath the spine. A couple of cardigans or sweaters, or even socks stuffed with something can make a working support for a book. Heck, you could even use two rolls of paper towels, or toilet paper on either side, if you can put a rock or brick on either side to keep them from rolling away!Cheaper, craftier idea: Get some polyethylene foam blocks from a craft store or an online supplier. Cut into a wedge shape with a foam knife. Leave uncovered or cover with fabric. Cutting open a memory foam pillow might be a good option here, but I’ve never done that myself so I can’t guarantee that it will work.Another crafty idea: Follow these instructions to make an adjustable book cradle. Or follow these different instructions to make a collapsible book cradle.Less crafty, more expensive idea: buy some foam wedges online, modify with a sharp knife to make them fit your book’s shape better. Or don’t, if they’re already at the right angle or length or height or whatever. You can cover them with fabric to protect the book from any foam shedding or just to keep the wedges from getting dirty. Examples of foam wedges on Amazon: Idea 1Idea 2 Idea 3Or, if your library/archives is made of money, you can buy a foam book cradle system from many different library vendors, like Gaylord and Hollinger.So yeah, there’s basically no excuse when you can literally use anything at hand (bricks, your sweater, two rolls of paper towels) to support the boards of an old book while you’re reading it.Cradles. Important. -- source link
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