“A truly great book should be read in youth, again in maturity and once more in old age.” [Robertson Davies]
Abstract
Bookleather is quite sensitive. If you do not treat it properly, it will dry and break. Every 4 years you should apply some suitable bookleather care. The recipe shown here can be ordered in many pharmacies. It was passed on by a librarian of a library in Göttingen.
Ingredients
| Ingredient | Amount |
|---|---|
| Thymol | 5.5 g |
| Neatsfoot Oil (oleum pedum tauri) | 100 ml |
| Beeswax (cera flava) | 30 g |
Production as an Ointment
Please read my Disclaimer.
First you fill 5.5 g of Thymol in form of powder with a spoon into beaker which stands on an accurate scale. Then you add 100 ml of neatsfoot oil (resulting in 105.5 g). Meanwhile you heat up 30 g of beeswax chips in a basin. To achieve a good mixture of Thymol and the neatsfoot oil, you put the beaker into a basin of hot water and you stir the mixture. The beeswax needs to be added then at the same temperature, or the ingredients will not mix well. Use thermometers to ensure temperatures of around 60°C. Pour the beeswax into the Thymol-neatsfoot oil mixture and stir well. Finally pour the ointment into two jars and wait for them to cool down and become solid. You can write the labels for the jars while waiting.