Re: Rare paperback - Page loose - Repair?

I have a very rare paperback book which has a loose page. Can I easily
repair this or should I take it somewhere to be repaired?

What to do?

With only a single leaf, it's tricky. Let me guess and say it's a leaf at the beginning or end. That makes it much easier. When the loose leaf is somewhere in the middle, you are apt to destroy the spine by trying to open the book wide enough to insert the leaf without getting wet glue on the other two leaves on either side. Old paperbacks are unforgiving when it comes to their spines -- they get very brittle with age.

If the leaf is at either end of the book, take the leaf and use a small nail or straightened paper clip to transfer a continuous bead of white carpenter's glue to the very edge of the leaf. I actually use the sharp end of a mathematical compass. You need some fine tool, you're finger won't do the job. Carefully smooth it on either side so that the glue is spread up each side of the edge around a sixteenth of an inch. Then lay the leaf carefully into its exact position in the book without brushing it against the cover or other pages.

You have to position it exactly while the glue is still wet. This is critical since you only get one chance. The glue will partially dry in seconds, becuse it is absorbed by the pulp paper. Close the book. Put another book on it to keep the spine tight, and let it completely dry for a few hours.

I've done quite a bit of book repair, both paperback and hardcover. I've restored completely perished spines on paperbacks. That's actually easier sometimes than inserting a single leaf.
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Relevant Pages

  • Re: Rare paperback - Page loose - Repair?
    ... > With only a single leaf, ... > without getting wet glue on the other two leaves on either side. ... Put another book on it to keep the spine tight, ... I've restored completely perished spines on paperbacks. ...
    (rec.collecting.books)
  • Re: Old Book.
    ... trimming onto the stubs using carefully applied cold water flour or starch paste*. ... To that person, I might add, apply glue sparingly along the very edge of the leaf you intend to insert, and open the book in the desired insertion point as wide as possible without cracking the spine. ... Take care to slide it down as deep into the crack as you can, taking great care not to get your glue on the pages on either side until the edge of the leaf you are inserting is almost seated into place. ...
    (rec.collecting.books)