I briefly explain my recipe, methods and show how to restore the health and luster of old leather books. For general inquiries, please email us at bibliocrypt@gmail.com
Be aware, everyone, that linseed oil will darken many materials almost immediately and absolutely everything over time. Linseed oil in the varnish, is the culprit that causes old paintings to go darker and eventually turn very dark brown over (a very long) time. Better to consult a professional with regard to truly valuable old books. Modern thinking is to avoid all oils altogether except that which clean hands provide during handling. If you really must - use a professionally made restoration leather conditioner
Re: old paintings, it's not just the linseed oil medium but also the varnish that darkens over time. Often shellac was used, which darkens over hundreds of years of light exposure.
I've made my own polish a few times over the years, and have only made/found recipes with beeswax, and have never even heard of using linseed oil--hopefully you are using the raw, and not the chemical stuff available mostly for woodworking.
Greetings. You say that linseed oil is one of the ingredients in your dressing for leather books but you don't specify "raw", "boiled". Raw linseed oil takes forever to dry and often won't dry. It would saturate leather and remain in a semi-liquid state. The boiled version contains chemicals that won't hurt wood, but will hurt leather. Raw linseed oil is better for leather but it is usually used in conjunction with vinegar and other ingredients and is intended to be used on saddles, bridles, belts, shoes, etc., not leather books. A friend of mine once "treated" an old leather book with machine oil! It looked great, but the petroleum content damages leather, so you can't go by "looks" alone. I would use a lanolin and neats foot oil combination (60/40) as this dressing is used on occasion by such institutions as the British Museum, Oxford University, and the New York Public Library. I can find no source that recommends using linseed oil and lanolin on old leather books. Where did you find your formula?
I don't generally apply linseed oil to leather but do you have a reference that cobalt drier (the siccative in BLO) hurts leather? I had noticed some pro conservator formulas do include polymerizing oils, of which there are only so many natural ones (linseed being a common drying oil)
Please do not apply linseed oil to leather bindings! It s extremely bad for leather, it will harden and render the leather vulnerable. Neatsfoot oil, mineral oils, micronic wax and frankincense or myrh oils are much better for this job.
3 года назад
@THE SUZZ Nope. Not all binders of the past used my recipe :)) Some old books do smell like frankincense because they were used in liturgical processions, probably.
timing_is_everything - thank you. The larger brown leather edition is a Register edition of Debates in Congress, Vol III; printed and published by Gales & Seaton, Washington, 1829. This volume covers debates of the 19th Congress (second session) from December 4, 1826 through March 3rd, 1827. Very difficult to find these here in the midwest. Most of the better examples are in NY and DC. I specialize in lower-grade editions of these old books; mostly $1k and less per edition. This is a beautiful golden oldie linked to our own government. Small slice of "history".
