If your volume
lacks one or both boards, paste the back with stickphast, and then press
on to it a strip of very thin linen (a strip torn from an old cambric
handkerchief serves admirably) about two inches wider than the back and
an inch shorter than the height of the book. The linen will project an
inch on either side of the back. Now put the volume aside to dry.

When the back is dry, having provided suitable boards, paste the linen
sides on the underside of each board, _i.e._ so that when the book is
shut, the linen is between leaves and board. The best way to do this is
to take a volume of similar thickness, cover it with newspaper, and place
it flat upon the table with its fore-edge to the back of the 'patient.'
Then lay the board on the supporting volume, and so paste the linen to
it. Do one side after the other, stand the book 'ajar,' and allow to dry.
Now you may proceed just as in re-backing, covering the boards first of
all by pasting over them a rather thin but _opaque_ paper. You will find
the squeegee useful here. These side-papers are measured and cut one inch
larger than the volume at head, foot, and fore-edge. The projecting edges
are folded over the boards and rubbed down with the squeegee. The corners
need some attention and pressing.

When you have re-backed your book and all is dry, you will have to
provide it with end-papers. Any opaque white paper will do, provided it
is not too stiff. That used for lining chests of drawers will answer the
purpose, though a paper of slightly better quality is preferable. Measure
it carefully about one-eighth of an inch less at head and foot than the
height of the book. You need not trouble about the width: so long as the
free edge projects beyond the fore-edge when you close the book it can be
cut level afterwards. Do not use too much paste, and crease the paper
carefully along, and slightly into, the 'joint' with an ivory paperknife.
Do not close the book until it is dry.

Whenever you may have occasion to add new end-papers, remember to
preserve all indications of the pedigree of your book, by which I mean
traces of previous ownership. If there be a bookplate, soak it off, and
when dry paste it inside the end cover. If there be autographs of
interest on the boards, soak the paper off, cut out the writing and paste
it back again when you have finished the book.

When you have provided your volume with new boards, however, you may
prefer to clothe it in a 'whole