Mending a soldbuch?

[bratwurstdimsum]

Hi there,

I got a fine Kriegsmarine soldbuch to a ober-maat today at a fair price, problem was the cover is separated from the pages and the spine is about 1 inch from being completely gone (ie cover will be in 2 pieces!).

I'm thinking about getting some binding from a bookbinder (just like the material used in repro soldbuchers and repairing it, along with the same staples (if I can) else new ones.

I know we like to say (preserve preserve preserve) but if I can't pick it up and admire it every now and then what's the point?

I welcome your opinions on this, what are your thoughts?

Jeff

[Jonathan M]

Some of my SB's and WP's are in a bad state of repair and i handle them with extreme care, but i never try to repair them. An idea might be to carefully scan the pages of the SB and you have a digital record to peruse at your hearts content while the SB is preserved.

just a thought
Jonathan

[PHILBROWN]

well if you bare in mind your soldbuch was rather tatty while in use 65 yrs ago, i think handling it now and then will do it no more harm. remember, these were used regularly and were on the person at all times. my advice is treat it carefully, but leave it as it is. to mess with it is a desecration of history IMO enjoy it

[CWP]

I would rather have a fragile and damaged item than one that is repaired with new material. The type of repair you are talking about could not be reversed. If you can not appreciate it in its present state, consider selling it to someone who can.