Opinions wanted

"Agrajag" (Agrajag) 11/05/2013 at 21:55 • Filed to: off-topic

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I have these two old books that are in pretty horrendous condition. Would it be heresy to dismantle and scan all the images. I figure it would be a better way to preserve them since they really are falling to pieces. This first one is from 1915 before it had escalated to the Great War.

This is from 1904.

To give an idea of the condition. Both covers are completely detached, but most pages are still bound, though a lot of them are torn or crumbling.

Some pics from inside.

PatBateman > Agrajag 11/05/2013 at 21:57

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Stop what you're doing right now and go have them appraised this week. Don't even open the books again until this is done.

Kugelblitz > Agrajag 11/05/2013 at 21:58

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I have one with pics from the Boer War. Very fragile. How rare is the book?

Ramblin Rover - The Vivisector of Solihull > Agrajag 11/05/2013 at 21:59

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That "aeroplane" might be a Handley-Page, definitely a bomber.
You do know rebinding is a thing, right? That way you can get your scans done, and hopefully have a reconstituted book at the end of things, if there's enough left of the pages and you've got a spine that's fo shit.

dogisbadob > Agrajag 11/05/2013 at 22:00

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It's not heresy to dismantle them because it sounds like they're already dismantled!

Nothing wrong with scanning them if you can do it without ripping anything, or at least keep it to a minimum. I'd love to read them!

Ramblin Rover - The Vivisector of Solihull > Agrajag 11/05/2013 at 22:01

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Also, Minerva (maker of that Belgian vehicle) later license-built Landies, so naturally I know about that.

Have a Handley-Page O-type (O/400):"

Agrajag > PatBateman 11/05/2013 at 22:22

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I did a quick ebay search of them and they look like they're going for about $50 in perceivably better condition. I kind of want them rebound so future little kids can look through them like I did, and to think of it so did my father and his father probably. I know that will ruin any potential future value though.

Agrajag > dogisbadob 11/05/2013 at 22:24

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That would be a long post, as they are both over 100 pages haha. If I do it I will certainly do a highlights version though. And maybe one day make a site for its entirety.

Agrajag > Kugelblitz 11/05/2013 at 22:25

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Doesn't appear to be that rare. About $50 on ebay.

Agrajag > Ramblin Rover - The Vivisector of Solihull 11/05/2013 at 22:27

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Of course. The Japanese-Russo war one might be to far gone, as it is more of a newsprint stock, so it is super brittle. The European war one is a glossy paper that is still really flexible, but both have a lot of torn pages.

bb5555 > Agrajag 11/05/2013 at 22:57

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Just a suggestion: What of contacting your local (larger) museum and ask about book restoration capabilities? This might be a bit costly, but could be worth your time.

Agrajag > bb5555 11/05/2013 at 23:00

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Hmmm. Not a bad idea.

Jonee > Agrajag 11/05/2013 at 23:46

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You can find book conservators or book binders around. They'll rebind them for you and it'll be like having new books.

Kugelblitz > Agrajag 11/06/2013 at 14:20

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The scan away!