FAQs

As a starting point, we recommend that you consider the following questions:

• Is the book structurally vulnerable? Can it be safely read without causing damage? Does it have loose or detached pieces that might be separated or lost?

• Does the book have artifactual value? Does the book as an object have qualities that make it special in and of itself—an inscription or book plate, marginalia, material added to its pages, a child’s drawings, church candle wax drippings, a grandparent’s whiskey glass or coffee cup ring on the cover?

• Does the book have monetary value that would be enhanced, or at least not undermined, by the addition of repairs?

• Does the book have unique content? If not, does this particular copy have personal value to you or someone else? Can another copy or edition of the book be easily or inexpensively obtained?

• What are your goals and priorities for the book? Do they center on its continued use, its ongoing existence within a collection or a family, its saleability, its longevity as an object, its aesthetic appearance?

Maybe. Maybe not. Often a binding that seems damaged beyond repair is in fact salvageable. As a conservation practice, we try to preserve as much of the book’s original structure, material, and artifactual value as possible (see the FAQ above), as long as doing so will allow the book to remain intact and functional. Therefore, rather than defaulting to putting a new binding on a damaged book, we’ll first consider what we can do to stabilize the book in its current binding. We’ll also consider your priorities for the book and your plans for its use and storage. Sometimes the binding is so deteriorated, or so much of it is lost, that rebinding it is clearly appropriate. In other cases, the best course of action is to preserve the book in its current condition by enclosing it in an attractive custom box constructed of museum-quality materials. These are options we’ll discuss with you once we’ve completed our assessment of the book (see our answer to the next FAQ, below).

All conservation projects begin with an assessment of the book or other object to be treated, which enables us to propose options and terms for treatment as well as an estimated cost. In the case of boxes, we will need either the actual book or its dimensions and we will need to know the type of box you’d like as well as its design.

Once we have agreed on a treatment or box proposal, we require a signed proposal and terms, accompanied by a deposit, to hold your place in the queue. We will let you know when work begins on your project, and if we encounter anything unexpected, we will pause and discuss revised options with you.

Payment is required upon completion of work, after which the book will be returned to you by insured shipping or in person.

Though we can provide educated estimates, we can’t predict when your project, or a project ahead of yours in the queue, may prove to be more complex than we anticipated. (Sometimes, but far more rarely, they’re simpler than we feared.)

When it is your project’s turn, how long the actual work takes will depend on the complexity of the issue to be addressed. Some repairs may take a matter of hours while others may take many days, at times spread over weeks, to allow for a series of steps to be completed in the proper sequence, which may include slow, controlled processes such as humidifying, flattening, and drying.

If you have a firm deadline by which you need a project completed, please tell us and we will do our best to make it happen! A rush surcharge will apply for completion in less than three months.

The cost of a conservation treatment will depend on the complexity of the repairs, the time involved, and the required materials. The cost of a box or custom binding will depend on its size and design and on the materials and processes to be used. All projects require a deposit of the greater of $150 or 50% of the total estimated cost to confirm acceptance of the proposal and quote, and to hold a place in the queue.

We are happy to offer a complimentary informal estimate based on either photographs or a 15-minute online consultation. In order to provide a firm quote, we will need to assess the book in person. We charge a nonrefundable fee of $150 for a formal assessment; this fee will be applied as a deposit toward the project should you decide to accept the treatment proposal.

If work is done at the client’s location, travel time and time spent on site will be billed at the current hourly rate and travel expenses will be charged in addition to the charge for the project itself.

As noted above, if a project must be completed in less than three months, it will be considered a rush and a surcharge will apply.

Most books don’t have exact right angles, nor are they exactly flat, so it’s important to measure spine and fore edge, top and bottom, front and back. The LARGEST of the measurements for each dimension is the one to use.

Millimeters are preferable, as they provide a more precise measurement than inches, but inch measurements are fine as well. When in doubt, round up to the nearest millimeter or 1/32 of an inch.

If your book is significantly wedge-shaped (thicker at the spine or fore edge) or cocked (the spine and shoulders are at an angle, causing one board to protrude beyond the other), or if the boards are so cupped that the book is noticeably thicker at the center than along the edges, it’s best if you can send us the book to measure.

If you prefer not to send the book, we can prepare a test wrapper based on your measurements for a nominal charge.

It’s always a good idea to wrap your book in clean paper, then place it in a sealed plastic bag (in case the box gets wet in transit), and then wrap it in bubble wrap or cardboard.

If you’re sending a small flat object, such as a pamphlet, place it in a folder or between two clean stiff boards before wrapping and sealing it.

Please, never ship books in only a padded envelope! Be sure to use a strong, unbroken box.

In the box, place a piece of flat cardboard on the bottom, then a layer of cushioning material that fully surrounds the book, and then another piece of flat cardboard on top. Seal the box well along all edges with strong packing tape.

Be sure to ship the book via a trackable service, require a signature on delivery, and send us the tracking number.

Faenwyl Bindery is unable to provide insurance coverage for clients’ books and/or other artifacts. All books and other artifacts consigned to Faenwyl Bindery must be covered under the client’s insurance policy if coverage is desired. All custom enclosures, books, and other objects, either new or repaired, that are returned to the client via any form of shipping, mail, or other delivery service, must be insured, either under the client’s policy or through the carrier, at the client’s expense. If insured through the carrier, a valuation must be provided for each consigned book or other object to be shipped.

Our preferred method of payment is Zelle. We also accept checks payable to Faenwyl Bindery, credit card via PayPal/Venmo, and cash.

We are not taking on apprentices at this time. However, we are always open to working with skilled colleagues on a contract basis. Please contact us if you are interested in working with us on conservation or box projects.