Book Repair for Booksellers: A guide for booksellers offering practical advice on book repair [Paperback]

Joyce Godsey (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 22, 2009

A handy guide for booksellers and book collectors offering practical advice on how to improve the quality and look of your books and ephemera.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Joyce Godsey has been professional bookseller for twenty-five years. Her training in book conservation and repair helped her develop earlier versions of this book. For ten years she has been offering online advice about book cleaning and repair to booksellers and collectors. Joyce's SicPress.com vends a wide range of the specialty materials used in the book. In addition to bookselling, writing and editing, Joyce is an enthusiastic photographer and cyclist. She is also active in community volunteer work, is an officer of Animal Rescue Merrimack Valley (ARMV.org) and the President of the Methuen Rail Trail Alliance (MethuenRailTrail.org).

Product Details

• Paperback: 90 pages
• Publisher: CreateSpace (April 22, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1442137320
• ISBN-13: 978-1442137325
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 6 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (25 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #127,254 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #24 in Books > Crafts, Hobbies & Home > Antiques & Collectibles > Books

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

37 of 38 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The handiest book repair guide ever!, August 5, 2009

By 

Lee C. Kirk "The Prints & The Paper" (Eugene, Oregon) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Book Repair for Booksellers: A guide for booksellers offering practical advice on book repair (Paperback)

I'm amazed that someone found this book "useless." As a professional bookseller I keep my copy in the top drawer of my repair table (along with my essential book repair supplies) while other books on the subject sit on a shelf. THIS book gives all the info you need for simple cleanups and repairs with clear, uncomplicated instructions, including some that are NOT in the academic repair manuals. The author also sells a full line of repair products, which are also right there in the drawers. I can't say how many hundreds of dollars this books has saved me, both in money saved from hiring professional services for small jobs, and in the added value to books that I have cleaned and repaired following these guidelines. Kudos to the author, and deep gratitude! Lee Kirk, The Prints & The Paper (bookseller)

22 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best How To Repair Book Guide, August 6, 2009

By 

J. BARTLETT "Docwell" (U.S.A.) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Book Repair for Booksellers: A guide for booksellers offering practical advice on book repair (Paperback)

I keep this how-to book with my box of book repair supplies, which this book and earlier guidelines by the author helped me to compile, many from the author's own website at very reasonable prices.

I am a college professor so the books I can afford to collect are often not in the best of condition, and although I am considered a person who knows how to repair many different kinds of things, I am no book repair expert. With the simple, step-by-step instructions I have returned many books to good useable and even gift-giving condition.

I read the negative review by M. Diamond and was amazed at how she could come to her conclusions about the usefulness of the book. So, I decided to review Diamonds other reviews. One of her other negative book reviews starts with, "First, let me acknowledge that I haven't actually read this book." I don't think the value of her reviews needs further consideration.

Prof. Bartlett

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Easy to use & very practical, August 5, 2009

By 

R. Bartlett "REB" (Boston MA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Book Repair for Booksellers: A guide for booksellers offering practical advice on book repair (Paperback)

A very useful "how to" with step-by-step directions for a wide range of book cleaning jobs and small repairs. This manual is great for finding solutions for specific problems in order to improve the appearance and overall condition of books. I owned the last edition ("Unbound") and bought this one too as the author had greatly expanded it. It is the kind of book you flip through whenever you are stumped -- it proves that it really is possible to take a worn or dirty book and make it look (and work) much better, primarily with supplies you have on hand or can easily obtain. The author clearly has a lot of practical experience and I have been very pleased with the directions provided and the results.

I own a number of books on repair and binding, but most of these are directed either at librarians (who seem to put tape on everything) or professional conservators. I think this book fills an important niche - for collectors or sellers who don't have the time or expertise to do extensive repairs -- particularly when a book is not of enough value to warrant such treatment -- but who also don't want to do anything that might damage a book or decrease its value. Book Repair for Booksellers proves that there are lots of small, safe & relatively quick things you can do that can both brighten up and better preserve a cherished book or make one more presentable to buyers.

Book Repair for Booksellers: A guide for booksellers offering practical advice on book repair