Stains caused by writing-ink may be removed by (1) Equal quantities of lapis calaminaris, common salt, and rock alum, boiled in white wine for half-an-hour, and applied with a brush or sponge. (2) A small quantity of oxalic or muriatic acid diluted with water, applied with a camel’s hair brush, and dried with clean white blotting paper—two applications. (3) Solution of oxalic acid and water, after which the leaves should be dipped in a weak solution of chloride of lime and water, and thoroughly dried, after washing in clean water. (4) Aniline ink stains can be sponged off with warm water, or completely removed by a bath of alcohol. Grease spots or oil stains can be removed by (1) washing or dabbing the part with ether or benzoline, and afterwards placing between white blotting paper, over which pass a hot iron. Keep the ether and benzoline away from burning lights. (2) Put the leaf between two pieces of white blotting paper and carefully apply a hot iron to both sides. (3) When the stain is caused by a slice of bacon having been used as a book-mark, or by contact with a paraffin lamp, the borrower should be asked to remove it and supply a new copy of the work! (4) In general oxalic, citric, and tartaric acids are safe agents to use for removing stains in books, as they do not affect the letter-press. (5) Water and damp stains are removable by the application of boiling water and alum. (6) Foxing may be removed by dipping the leaves in a weak solution of hydrochloric acid, half ounce of acid to one pint of hot water, or by a weak bath of chlorine water. (7) Mud stains will yield to washing in cold water, then in a weak solution of muriatic acid, and finally in a weak solution of chloride of lime; dry well. For many practical hints on these and other subjects, see the admirable Art of Bookbinding, by J. W. Zaehnsdorf, issued as one of Bell’s “Technological Handbooks”. The receipts given in Power’s Handy Book about Books, Brannt and Wahl’s Techno-Chemical Receipt Book, and Cooley’s Cyclopædia of Practical Receipts will also repay a little study.
To repair torn leaves: lay the torn leaf upon a piece of tissue paper of the same colour as the leaf itself. Touch the edges of the torn pieces, lightly, with good paste, applied by the finger,—bring them carefully together in proper position and place on top another piece of tissue paper; then put the volume under a heavy weight or in a press and leave it till next day. Finally, with great care, tear off the tissue paper which will adhere wherever it has touched the paste. The fibres of the tissue which remain, together with the paste, result in an almost invisible union of the torn fragments.
FOOTNOTES
[1] For Figures 1, 3, and 7 we are indebted to Mr. Thomas Greenwood, in whose work on Public Libraries they appear.
[2] For Figures 2 and 4 we have to thank Messrs. Wake & Dean, library furnishers, London.
[3] We believe the credit of this really most ingenious invention belongs to the late Dr. Tyler, one of the founders of Bethnal Green Free Library.—Editors.
[4] See Library Chronicle, vol. iv. p. 88; Library Notes (American); and The Library, vol. III. p. 414.
[5] An ingenious adaptation of this invention is suggested and described by Mr. Lymburn, Librarian of Glasgow University Library—in The Library for July-August, 1892—Editors.
[6] Figures 5, 6, and 8 are inserted by kind permission of Messrs. Hammer & Co., library furnishers, London.
[7] For Figures 9, 11, 13, 14, and 17 we are indebted to Mr. Greenwood’s work on Public Libraries.