Books & Family Bibles

Our goal when conserving and restoring books and bindings is to have the artifact function like new while maintaining its antique integrity and authenticity. By repairing the existing binding, replacing materials and recreating lost material where required, a book is made strong and useable, without compromising its value as an artifact. When the binding components are no longer salvageable, the binding is recreated to match the original features as closely as possible, see period/historic rebinding. Treatments for books and bindings include but are not limited to:

Rebacking – replacing the spine with new materials dyed to blend with the binding adhering the original spine over top or recreating the appearance of the original spine as closely as possible. This includes replacing the adhesives and spine linings ensuring a strong binding structure.
Reattachment of covers to textblocks, including replacement of the adhesives and spine linings.
Repairing inner joints at the endpapers or replacement of endpapers
Repairing and rebuilding corners and caps
Repair of soft cover books by cleaning the cover, infilling losses and repairing tears followed by reattachment to the textblock including replacement of the adhesives and spine linings
Repair of tears and losses as desired
Separating ‘blocked’ (stuck together) pages
Removal of library stamps, hand written inks, foxing and other stains.
Historic rebinding
Preventative care through the construction of custom enclosures

Before and After Treatment Examples

Since 2008 I have entrusted Kyla Ubbink with dozens of vintage posters for preservation and repair, and I always have been delighted with the results. The posters Kyla has worked on for me are up to 90 years old and several have needed considerable repair and restoration. Kyla’s ability to restore damaged posters is particularly impressive. Indeed, I think of Kyla as a “miracle worker” and the key to preserving and increasing the value of my poster collection. – David Hopper, Collector, NY, USA

Kyla’s expertise can be a life saver when art on paper needs restoration. It’s a rare talent that we appreciate when needed.

Kyla Ubbink’s work is truly amazing, we’ve had her do some repair and restoration work for the store, and the results were extremely impressive. I also highly recommend Kyla’s workshops. – Cornell Booksellers

I showed the book you restored, “Les Femmes Célèbres”, to all my family, and in fact all my sisters and my mother, were really impressed by how wonderful this book is now. My mum talked to us about how much this book meant to her, being given to her by my grandmother during the depression years when money was tight, and how it inspired her to work hard and also have her daughters get an education to succeed in life. It is a family treasure and we are really happy to have it as a usable book now. -Carole Dignard

Thanks so much for the wonderful job you did in restoring the Lessore painting. Both my husband and I are really impressed! Couldn’t believe the before/after photos. Thanks for the recommendations regarding the framing.- Nancy Carlson

Thank you most sincerely for the outstanding job you did on my certificate. I am more than thrilled! – Malen Framing

We’ve received many positive comments from relatives and friends about the family bible that Ubbink Book and Paper Conservation so painstakingly restored. Instead of being hidden in a closet, the bible is now displayed where we can see and enjoy it every day. – Bob Irvine

Books & Family Bibles

Rebacking – replacing the spine with new materials dyed to blend with the binding adhering the original spine over top or recreating the appearance of the original spine as closely as possible. This includes replacing the adhesives and spine linings ensuring a strong binding structure.

Reattachment of covers to textblocks, including replacement of the adhesives and spine linings.

Repairing inner joints at the endpapers or replacement of endpapers

Repairing and rebuilding corners and caps

Repair of soft cover books by cleaning the cover, infilling losses and repairing tears followed by reattachment to the textblock including replacement of the adhesives and spine linings

Repair of tears and losses as desired

Separating ‘blocked’ (stuck together) pages

Removal of library stamps, hand written inks, foxing and other stains.

Historic rebinding

Preventative care through the construction of custom enclosures

Before and After Treatment Examples