Re-attaching a page
I decided to try a conservation repair to an 1869 edition of Paroissien, an antique catholic prayer book, which my father had brought home from an auction several years ago. I had a missing page; a printed illustration of Christ blessing the infants which was still attached to its protective cover paper. I took this book to the Conservation Department and a colleague there gave me some advice for re-attaching it.
First I cut a strip of 18 gsm Kozo paper the length of the page and 2 cm wide. I used Kozo paper because the long fibres make it naturally strong, durable, and highly flexible, as well as pH neutral. This was very important to me since the staining on the paper, as well as the book's age, meant that I wanted to avoid any acidic components that could damage the paper in the long run. Moreover, extremely thin Kozo paper is highly translucent, allowing the contents on the original paper to clearly show through.
Having cut my hinging tissue, I then used the offset method to paste out. I used a Wheat Starch Paste and PVA glue mix. I did realise that it would have been better to use simply Wheat Starch Paste, but the suppliers I researched into were out of stock and so I used what I had.
Having laminated the Kozo strip, I then applied the glued side to the hinge of my loose page. I wrapped the strip around the fold to further support the much thinner and more fragile protective page and to reinforce the join.
I then applied a thin strip of the PVA and paste mix to the back of the printed page, over the (now attached) strip of Kozo. Using my fingers and a bone folder, I lined this up with the corresponding page in the book and tipped it in. I then placed a non-adhesive plastic slide and a pice of Bondina into the book on the protective paper side and between the fold of the newly-attached page, to prevent any glue escaping into the rest of the book, and placed it under weights.
When I checked the book the next morning, the page was firmly attached and there was no glue staining elsewhere in the book. The page did sit slightly proud of the original book block but that was easily trimmed down.
