Removing writing indents??

Candy53

Hi,

I didn't know where to post this, but wondered if anyone has any ideas.

I've bought an old out of print book for a Christmas present, which was printed in 1943. Only 10 quid too, so very pleased.

But, it had quite modern pencil writing on the first page, which I've rubbed out but has left indents.

Does anyone know of any tips on getting rid of them, or lessening them please? It's a shame because above them is a message from someone who gave the book as a gift, in 1946.


Thanks,
Candy.

givememoney

What about very carefully pressing with a steam iron.

I would put something either side of the paper for safety some sort of fine cloth.

Fruball

How about putting a sheet of paper either side and rubbing gently with a coin, kind of like a leaf rubbing?

Candy53

Oh, both good ideas to try, thanks.


Candy

daska

Doing do the coin thing will compress the fibres.

How confident are you of the paper, is it feeling brittle, going brown? Or is it still in good nick? If it's deteriorating you need to be careful. If still looking/feeling good then you're probably OK to try getting rid of it using steam.

Be careful of the spine if you use steam, even stitched books are glued along the spine and you don't really want to melt it as that will weaken the binding.

Get a sheet of blotting paper, a clean clear plastic food bag (cut out one side so you have no lumpy seams/edges) and fashion some kind of press - can be a set of encyclopaedias or a dozen house bricks perhaps.

Slide the plastic sheet under the offending page

If you have a steam cleaner or iron hold that near the page being careful that you don't get water droplets on it as they will stain. If neither of the above boils a kettle .

Steam the page GENTLY, then place the other sheet of blotting paper on top and place under the press/weights.

Be careful with the blotting paper, if you put it in squint you'll end up with a mark from that.

Good luck.

Betty_Crumble

personally i would have kept the message, how nice that something given in 46 would survive to be given again in 2012 but thats just me, hope you sort it.

jemb

Hair dryer?

krlyr

Betty_Crumble wrote: »

personally i would have kept the message, how nice that something given in 46 would survive to be given again in 2012 but thats just me, hope you sort it.

I think OP has left the message from 1946 but means there was another message, left more recently, that they erased.

Betty_Crumble

krlyr wrote: »

I think OP has left the message from 1946 but means there was another message, left more recently, that they erased.

yes you are right, i should have read it again

Candy53

Hi everyone,

Thanks for all your suggestions. Yeah, there is a message from 1946. Its pencil markings underneath that I rubbed out. It was modern stuff.

Daska - I will try it. The paper is quite discoloured, naturally, being old, but is in good condition, not fragile.


Candy

daska

Remember, gently does it. Paper is surprisingly strong but still needs a gentle touch, it's weakest when wet.

I would suggest you have another pair of hands at the ready just in case you need them

Best of luck