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I would gently and sparingly apply Sadly, some people just LOVE to
the leather dressing, then buff. Be careful use tape for repairing split hinges or
not to get any on the non-leather areas of loose covers of old books. The more
the covers. Applying the dressing with inappropriate the better, it would
your finger along the edges of the leather seem sometimes. I've even seen freezer
might be more precise than applying it tape used. Also, electrical tape.
with a cloth. Perhaps I should start an archive
Now here is a trick that I use. After "Bad things people do to good
applying the leather dressing, I then use a books." I did not think to take a
shoe cream that comes in colors and can be photo of the book someone had
ordered online to touch up any worn areas. repaired with band-aids. At least they
Also, Kiwi leather dye can be used, but test were clean band-aids, but it was still
an inconspicuous area first for the color, gross. Duct tape repairs are also
and don't get any on the lettering. Pick a common along with the use of clear
color closest to what the spines were origi- packing tape. Inner hinges can better
nally. Be careful not to get any on the gilt- be repaired with a thin bead of white
British Museum Leather stamped lettering. Any on the lettering can glue than by using any kind of tape
Dressing, a reasonably priced
and highly recommended be gently wiped off before it dries. which can cause more problems later A well-loved and taped-together
leather conditioner Using shoe cream on books might on and may be difficult and imprac- example of The Boston Cooking
seem daft, but the secret is that leather is tical to remove. School Cook Book
leather whether it's on shoes or books! As with old books and collectibles by Fannie Merritt Farmer
Assuming the spines are in good shape and are just faded, I believe in general, when in doubt it’s best not to try and do anything yourself
that a judicious application of proper book care products would greatly especially on anything really
improve the appearance of the spines. – Jim nice. Caring for old books is
Also don't use any leather dressing on books bound in paper, cloth, easy. Just avoid extremes of
suede, or any raw, unfinished, or leather that has not been dressed, as temperature and humidity
that would be a horrible mess! Many of the turn-of-the-last-century like especially attics or base-
those published by Roycrofters Press and maybe some of the Altemus ments. If you’re comfortable,
books circa 1900 were bound in suede which once it starts to disinte- your books will be, also.
grate, I don't know of anything you can do with them besides a com-
plete rebind.
(Editor's note: You do NOT need to apply leather dressing often or in A page from the oldest book
large amounts. This will only weaken the leather and start to break it still standing, Diamond Sutra,
down. When buffing, watch as you use a soft cloth to ensure you are not tak- printed in China, May 11, 868
ing a layer of leather off and distressing its state of being.)

Continued from page 22
full dining tables with leaves, and the “Ta-Bed,” which looked like a
dining table but could be flipped to become a single bed complete with
a headboard.
Whether for storage or concealment, these examples show that we
cannot always take our vintage finds at face value. It may be time to do
a little investigating and determine if we have any purloined letters hid-
den in cabinets, or want to add any secret storage to our decor.

A walnut and softwood sideboard of splayed form, with a molded plinth, paneling on
all sides in the Bolognese Renaissance style. An antique sideboard could include secret
drawers to store silver cutlery and have drawers with false backs behind which could
be used to store small pieces of silver or gold. photo: dorotheum.com
a sliding secret part may have left its mark. Lastly, keep an eye on
painted pieces. German cabinet makers in particular would paint wood-
work to camouflage a concealed compartment or moveable end.

Later Uses for Concealment
Beyond concealing items for secrecy or security, furniture moving
into the later 19th and 20th century also concealed for storage reasons.
The “folding beds” of the 1880s and 90s paved the way for the Murphy
Bed and folded into decorative cabinets or a chest of drawers with a
mirror. Be on the lookout for folding beds from Hale & Kilburn,
Stickley-Brandt, or Samuels.
If you’d prefer a convertible table, in 1894 George Hunzinger An impressive George Hunzinger Mahogany flip top yacht game table,
patented an oak or mahogany table that had a pivoting top. In some c.1890s. This superb round gaming table has a mahogany veneered top which
models, the plain top could pivot to a fabric-covered poker surface. reverses to reveal a gaming table with a green baize surface, surrounded by
They also came in checkerboard or backgammon board models and wells for gaming pieces. The tabletop swivels on rods through two of the four
leg top terminals. The other two leg-top terminals have a metal
would be a fun addition to any game room. The multipurpose furniture spring-loaded catch mechanism that holds the tabletop in place and
trend also produced flip top tables or low cabinets that expanded to be allows it to swivel when the catch is depressed.
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