Please put the book back for the next person.
At Bunfuku, we repair used books as needed before passing them on to their next owner.
Since these are used books, we cannot, and do not expect to, restore everything to like-new condition.
Books that have been read for a long time carry the history of that time.
It's impossible to perfectly restore them.
So, our aim is to prevent further deterioration, and to make them comfortable for the next person to pick up and enjoy for a long time.
That's the extent of the repairs we strive for.
Using materials that are as book-friendly as possible
We also choose repair materials that are as gentle on books as possible.
For glue, we primarily use Fueki glue.
Depending on the area and condition of the repair, we may mix in a small amount of vinyl acetate adhesive, like wood glue, but we avoid excessive bonding.
If a page is torn, we use paper-based reinforcement material.
The product Bunfuku primarily uses is Kihon's "Page Helper P."
It's a repair tape with adhesive on Japanese paper-style rayon paper, which makes the repair relatively inconspicuous and blends well with the book's pages.
No cellophane tape
When looking at used books, you sometimes find torn pages crudely repaired with cellophane tape.
While it may look neat initially, over a long time, the adhesive degrades, yellows, or becomes sticky, damaging the paper.
If a book has already been repaired with cellophane tape, we remove it as cleanly as possible before fixing it with paper repair material.
There's also a tape called "mending tape," but I don't feel it's suitable for book repairs.
Considering the longevity of a book, I believe it's best to avoid temporary repairs with household tape.
Plastic covers for books with dust jackets
For used books with dust jackets, we send them with a clear plastic cover, depending on their condition.
This is to help prevent the dust jacket from rubbing or tearing during shipping or when taking the book on and off the bookshelf.
However, keeping it on constantly isn't always the right solution.
In humid environments, it can lead to stains and mold depending on the conditions. Please remove it if unnecessary, according to the storage location and season.
Also, depending on the book's shape and condition, a plastic cover may not be attachable.
More about preventing future damage than perfect restoration
I don't believe there's one single "correct" way to repair a used book.
The methods we use at Bunfuku are certainly not perfect either.
However, what we value is not just how clean a repair looks immediately, but ensuring that the repair itself doesn't become a cause of damage to the book over time.
A used book carries the history of someone having read it before.
A slight tear, a bumped corner, some scuffing, sun discoloration, or stains.
All of these are part of the time that book has lived through.
Even books of the same title and edition, having passed through a long time, are each slightly different.
That's why at Bunfuku, instead of forcibly erasing these marks, we want to cherish them as unique aspects of that particular book.
Clean it, make slight adjustments only where necessary, and restore it to a readable condition. Then it moves on to the next person's bookshelf, and its journey continues.
I would be happy if each book, including its imperfections and repair marks, is treasured and read as a unique item.
I believe that book will surely be helpful to you in some way, or make you want to open it at unexpected moments.
And even when the day comes for you to let it go, it will be read by someone else.
Perhaps that's how books live on for a surprisingly long time, passing from person to person.
With such thoughts in mind, Bunfuku passes each book on to its next owner.