I asked Spertus' book conservator, Karen Lee, who is not on the list, if she had any thoughts on glue to share:
Yehuda, It's acceptable to attach bookplates to old or rare books, as long as you follow the basic guideline that everything you do should be reversible -- that is, able to be removed without damage to the book. Be careful when you place the bookplate. Don't obscure text or any added markings on the book, and do not allow moisture to touch leather parts of the binding. Don't attach a plate to brittle or very fragile paper (which may crack or tear), or to vellum or parchment (which may warp), or to anything you suspect may not be color fast. "First, do no harm" should be your motto here; when in doubt, avoid doing anything. If you think some intervention may be needed, consult a conservator. That said, the procedure is only slightly more complicated than it would be for modern, circulating books -- just make sure that you have the right materials, and enough time to be delicate and methodical in your work. First, be sure your bookplates are printed on acid-free paper, and don't use ink that may run or transfer to the book. I use a handmade rag paper myself, cut down to a manageable size and printed on a laser printer; I think it tends to look more harmonious on old papers. Try and keep your plates small and unobtrusive. Use wheat or rice starch paste, an adhesive which is reversible with water. This sort of paste is generally sold in powdered form and mixed with water in small quantities as needed; use a fork or whisk to avoid lumps, and mix to a consistency between heavy cream and yogurt. Refrigerated, the paste will last for a few days. Some starch pastes require laborious cooking and straining -- be sure to buy 'precooked' paste. Apply thinly to the back of your plate with a brush or sponge. Pat the plate onto the book with your fingertips. Newly plated books should not be reshelved until the next day, to allow the paste to dry fully. If you place a sheet of blotting paper over the bookplate to keep moisture away from the other pages, the book can be closed while drying. Depending on where you live, you may be able to find the supplies you need in an art supply or paper store. Otherwise, they can be purchased by mail from Talas http://talasonline.com/ or BookMakers http://www.bookmakerscatalog.com/. Best of luck with your collection. K. Lee Conservator Asher Library ========================================================================== HaSafran - The Electronic Forum of the Association of Jewish Libraries Submissions for HaSafran, send to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] SUBscribing, SIGNOFF commands send to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Questions, problems, complaints, compliments;-) send to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] AJL HomePage http://www.JewishLibraries.org/
