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SpellbinderEntertainment Inner circle West Coast 3519 Posts |
Hi! I need to age the hell out of a new leather hardcover book. The book is sort of rare and expensive, so I don’t want to screw this up. I’d like to do the cover especially, then maybe the inner pages, all to be antiqued to about 100 years old.
The book is hardcover leather bound in red/brown leather, with extensive 22k gold stamping designs on both covers and spine, and the pages are gold gilt as well. It has grosgrain end papers, and acid-neutral paper pages. It’s in almost brand new condition, really lovely. Now here’s the hard part (and I hate to do this to an elegant book) but I have to transform this into what will easily pass close-up for a First Edition volume printed in 1895! I only can lay my hands on this one copy so I want to do this right the first time out. I have some vague ideas, but could use some experienced and expert advice (where is Brother Shadow when you need him?) Thanks for any and all of your suggestions! Magically, Walt |
WDavis Inner circle 1276 Posts |
Walt,
PM me your email and I will send you instructions from Leather Crafters. my best, Walter |
George Ledo Magic Café Columnist SF Bay Area 3042 Posts |
Responded to your email (two versions).
That's our departed buddy Burt, aka The Great Burtini, doing his famous Cups and Mice routine
www.georgefledo.net Latest column: "Sorry about the photos in my posts here" |
Dr Spektor Eternal Order Carcanis 10781 Posts |
For my M R James tomes, I do the following:
To darken sections -- you can thin down waterbased leather dye(sold at hobby lobby or leather stores). If you want to distress it-- some fine sand paper or dabbing it with masking tape. Sounds simple... but it works for me.
"They are lean and athirst!!!!"
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The Curator V.I.P. Beware Vampire, I have 3909 Posts |
I'll make it simple.
Search a real antique blank book. (This one is more than 200 year old and didn't cost me more than a new leather bound book.) Then study some handwriting from the era and use the correct writing tools. |
The Curator V.I.P. Beware Vampire, I have 3909 Posts |
Plus, this is a late 19th century handwritten book. It will give you an idea how it looks...
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SpellbinderEntertainment Inner circle West Coast 3519 Posts |
Hello Christian!
Thank you for posting the books, they are marvelous. In this case, it must be a "first edition" of an exact title by a well known author, with an intact introduction. I was luck enough to locate a fantastic leather gold stamped copy that's perfect. And thanks to this group and some talented friends I'll have the techniques to age it 100 or so years. As you say, it's not a simple or fast or easy process this way, but it will be perfect from close up. If I'd not found the exact (but new) edition I would have gone the route of disguising another book. I appreciate the advice I got from you Café guys! I'll try to post a photo when the project is done. Magically, Walt |
lin Special user California 876 Posts |
If possible, it would be super to see both before and after photos.
:D |
mrunge Inner circle Charleston, SC 3716 Posts |
Quote:
On 2011-01-29 20:15, lin wrote: Yep, would love to see it, both before (if possible) and after. Mark. |
motown Inner circle Atlanta by way of Detroit 6127 Posts |
How something a hundred plus years looks like depends upon how it was cared for. So, you can go overboard on how much you distress something. What might be more important is that the materials it's made of, typography and art work are right for the period.
"If you ever write anything about me after I'm gone, I will come back and haunt you."
– Karl Germain |
The Curator V.I.P. Beware Vampire, I have 3909 Posts |
Can't you use the cover of another book ?
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The Magic Cafe Forum Index » » The spooky, the mysterious...the bizarre! » » Antiquing my New Leather bound book to 100 years old? (0 Likes) |
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