That $40 omnibus I bought on eBay had the binding fall apart on page 50

Ended up spending another $25 at a local book bindery to get it fixed, but now I'm nervous to even open it too wide has anyone else had luck with those older collected editions holding up?

2 comments

2 Comments

colemiller2d agoMost Upvoted

Glue quality back then was hit or miss, some batches just had a shorter lifespan.

lucas_price832d ago

Have you thought about what kind of storage conditions might have caused that glue to dry out in the first place? I had a similar issue with an old Marvel Masterworks volume where the binding just crumbled, and a bookbinder told me heat and low humidity are the real killers for these older glued bindings. He said keeping them in a cooler spot (like a basement, as long as it's dry) can slow down that breakdown a lot. Mine has held up fine since I moved it away from direct sunlight and my radiator, even with normal page turning. Might be worth checking where you store your books before you shell out for another repair.