Within these limitations we attempt to keep the original material as accessible as possible. With this in mind, we decide what kind of treatment a given volume will get. Consultation with the curator and my description of types of treatments possible determine what level of interference is acceptable with a given volume. Questions of time needed and loss of evidence are all part of these deliberations. In my work, I come across many detached boards from tight back or hollow back volumes with laced-in board structures.
Some bindings are plain and unadorned, others show elaborate gold tooling on the spine.
Usually only the endsheets or first and last sections are worn or detached, with an otherwise sound textblock. Lifting the leather from the spine for rebacking may be time consuming. This is often not warranted if not impossible without destroying the original leather and tooling. Because the idea appealed to me I began to work with this technique. It certainly helped to attach the boards quickly and solidly if the type and overall condition of the book allowed for that.