Broken / Detached / Split Book Hinge

Hello,
I could not find a detailed thread on the subject so I started one.

MY FS Greek Myths 1996 (Single Vol.) arrived in the mail a few months back and since then has lain in a corner but for occasional flips as I observe and try to envisage restoration techniques. As you can see, the backcover hinge is fully separated from the text-block.



I suppose I should be grateful that the seller allowed me to keep the book and a full refund, though I cannot help but feel a little disappointed when I see a 700-plus page Folio Society book with cover boards secured to the book signatures using only glued endpapers.

Lighter books may be held together by endpapers, often pasted onto a wire-mesh fabric/ gauze/ super - which is in turn glued to the cover and spine... like this HP Fathers and Sons - another fatality of long distance travel and loose fitting slipcases. Here, the cover is not completely detached from the text-block thanks to the underlying gauze.



The only idea that comes to mind without dismantling the book or sewing through existing signatures; is sewing the edge of the detached cover to a long strip of linen, pasting this onto the spine and closing the split map-endpaper over the hinge. I want to retain the map endpaper while recreating a strong hinge. However, this exercise will involve quite a bit of dexterity on my part.

I wonder if anyone has undertaken a sewing project to repair such damage, since most hinge repair videos on YouTube involve single-stitched binder tape and at least one free flyleaf (to save any text going under the 'tape') still attached to the text-block.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5w3BayjJ1rU
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zZE9sN_hTVc

Unfortunately, such a repair in my case would cover areas of the map adjacent to the hinge. Use of clear or linen tape would only be superficial, not really strengthening the bond between cover and text-block - which were weak to begin with.

I am already scouring the internet for sewing awls, curved needles, bone folders, unwaxed linen threads (25/3, 30/3, 35/3?) and pH-neutral PVA glue.

One example of the ideal hinge construction:
Antarctica: Explorer Series, Volume 1, by Pat & Rosemarie Keough; handbound by Felton Bookbinding and winner of the Best Book Arts Craftsmanship (2003 IPPY Awards).













Sources for the above photos and description:
https://www.independentpublisher.com/article.php?page=741
https://www.amazon.com/Antarctica-Explorer-Vol-Pat-Keough/dp/0969255756
https://www.keough-art.com/tome_handbinding.php
https://www.keough-art.com/antarctica_specifications.php

Very interesting. Let me know how you go one. Sad to see a split book but happy to see that you’ve chosen to save this book from the bin.

>1 mr.philistine:

I am already scouring the internet for sewing awls, curved needles, bone folders, unwaxed linen threads (25/3, 30/3, 35/3?) and pH-neutral PVA glue.

If you are in the U.S., go to Talas: https://www.talasonline.com/ There are other resources listed in this thread: https://www.librarything.com/topic/329215

>2 ironjaw: ...you’ve chosen to save this book from the bin.

Binning was never an option, even though I got it pretty cheap from a mega bookseller. This book travelled ~5000mi to me and I intend to make good on this endeavour.

>3 lilithcat: Thanks, but do you know of any bookbinding suppliers in Europe? I have added Shepherds Bookbinders and Relma to the thread you mention.

The Guild of Book Workers only have a GBW Tape Measure for sale currently :)

>4 mr.philistine:

I found Ratchford: https://ratchford.co.uk/product-category/accessories-and-tools/

And the Society of Bookbinders has a page of "useful links" that includes some suppliers: https://www.societyofbookbinders.com/about-us/useful-links/

J. Hewitt & Sons carry a selection of bookbinding supplies in addition to leather:. https://www.hewitonline.com/Non_Leather_s/2.htm

They are in Scotland near Edinburgh.