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Question:
Collectables in boxes have a higher value (more noticable at Land Auction houses
than on-line auctions), and often the boxes have corner splits or tears.
The image is a lid to far gone for worthwhile repair (considering the increased
value a 1st class lid adds to the item), but could be strengthened up to look
presentable. My problem is not knowing the best way to tackle this- the Lid is
about 50years old, selotape would give a botched up look and lose the
collectable character of the set. Questi
Answer:
If you are near a metropolitan area, look for a trade bindery or a small
bookbinder. Some 50 years ago I was a sales manager for a large trade bindery
and we restored many boxes - most were actually slip cases for books, but the
principal is the same. You cannot fully restore your particular item because
parts of the printed area are missing, but you can restore the lid using hot
hide glue and a piece of chipboard. Open the lid and lay it flat over a piece of
chipboard and mark the outline of the lid. Then cut the 4 corners out. Next,
using a straight edge and the back side of a table knife, score the edges where
the folds are to be. Then take the chipboard and your lid to the bookbinder and
ask that they run the lid through their glue machine. You don't want to run the
chipboard through the glue machine because you do not want glue to show where
part of the lid is missing. Carefully align the lid with the chipboard and fold
the sides down. From the inside, you can secure the folds by using either clear
bookbinder's tape or bookbinder's linen tape.
If you do not want the grey colored chipboard to show, you can glue a colored
paper or material to both sides.
You can use wallpaper glue but in time that glue will
crack. I have books that are almost 500 years old where the bookcloth was
affixed to the board covers with hide glue and there has been no drying or
cracking.
It is a simple process, but takes a little time and patience. The finished
product will look restored, but that might actually add to its personality.