This old timer had been abused by family members for over 200 years.

The final indignity was the member who packed the hollow back with glue, let it get really hard, then opened the book with much force.

The inevitable happened.

The book broke in two pieces.

It was delivered to us in a small brown paper bag. 

We salvaged the endpapers and paste down, which had names of original family members.

We used aged paper to provide new pastedown and endpapers.

We incorporated the original pastedown and endpapers as fly, protecting them behind the new acid-free endpaper.

We rebacked the book and used original gilt filigree to repair the spine.

Finally, we built a custom slipcase to protect the book.

It can now be given to family members for a few more generations.