MODERN USES FOR OLD BOOKS AND BOOK COVERS

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 546, 26 December 1928, Page 4

MODERN USES FOR OLD BOOKS AND BOOK COVERS

I Those old books which used to line library shelves, their contents antiquated and neither of interest nor of value, the handsome brown leather bindings, tooled and gilded, their only recommendation for preservation, are in great demand now that book covers and book: boxes are a recognised decorative feature in the modern house. Book boxes, made out of one book, or of several large ones together, the pages stuck in a solid mass with the centre cut out to form a box of which the cover is the lid, are used for every purpose, from a concealed tantalus to chocolate boxes, receptacles for bridge packs and markers, and stationery cabinets. Making the Boxes It is not at all difficult to make these boxes if you have some nicely-bound cld books suitable for the purpose. Some quick-drying gum should be used to stick all the pages firmly and smoothly together. Stick up a few at a time, and close the book under a weight to dry so that the edges come exactly even. When this operation is complete, slip a piece of between the wedge of pages and the back cover, and cut out on it a measured box space with a sharp knife, leaving a margin of at least an inch wide all round. Marbled End-pages The end-page, which is that facing the covers of the book, may be cut out in the centre just sufficiently so that strips of it can he turned down Inside and there to form the inner sides of the box and conceal the cut underneath. In many old books the end-pages are usually of thick marbled paper to match the edges. Finally, stick the hollowed square of pages to the back cover, so that the marbled back is seen at the bottom of the box, and the wjiole appears lined with the same. Blotters for antique bureaux are made of old book-bindings. In this case the covers only are used and fitted with blotting paper in the place of the discarded pages. Care must be taken not to damage the binding when the pages are removed. Presentation Copies

Modern books are often rebound in old covers as presentation copies, or to tone with other well-bound sets of volumes on the shelves. It is a good idea to clothe paper-covered reference books and others in slip-over leather covers. These may be held by elastic, or have envelopes made of strong paper pasted inside the #overs for the ends of the paper books to be slipped in-

A handsome set for a writing-table can be made of old volumes, with bindings to match, converted into blotter, stationery cabinet, telephone, directory, and engagement book covers. Books bearing family or college crests on the covers are specially attractive for this purpose. To such use, also, might be put sets of school prizes gained long years ago, and the many volumed encyclopaedias of an obsolete type. The standing covers of two books joined up together on a square base form a waste-paper basket, and they are also being utilised as book supports, stiffened and weighted at the bottom so that they stand firmly at either end of a row of books on a table.

Old print illustrations out of antique books are in demand for lamp £hadr| They are pasted on to parchment paper and varnished.