MAD Paperback Custom Hardcovers

"What...Me Worry?" MAD's MADdest Fan Site!

Only original print blocks are used. I start by removing the covers and then removing the old brittle glued spine by running the book through a fine toothed table saw with custom jig press. Text block is straightened, and double fan method glued with high quality PVA glue. Unlike the old glue used, modern PVA when dry stays flexible, is acid free and archival safe for books. Next if the text block needs further edge cleaning then the end pages are finely sanded to smooth down any imperfections and the page ends are coated with an acrylic paint to seal the page ends from moisture and dust. Custom Flypapers and Endpapers are then attached to text block with a 2nd layer of PVA. Then the spine is notched in 4 spots and linen threads are glued into them for additional spine strength followed by decorative tail and headbands applied to the spine ends and then wrapped with spine cloth after a 3rd layer of PVA ensuring years of readability! When dry, the blocks are then placed inside custom hardcovers using scans of the original front and back covers printed onto canvas book cloth and sealed with an acrylic spray sealer to protect the covers. I only use .080 Davey Board inside my covers! When you open these books both covers will lay flat on the ground without the worry of splitting spines! Only high quality materials are used. Each book is custom made and unique however each book follows a build guideline that I have created to ensure that each book will look like it's part of a complete set. These books are extremely time consuming to make and the materials are not cheap, each book taking several days to complete.

MAD Magazine Paperback Book Hardcover Conversion Using Double-Fan or Lumbeck Bookbinding With a Bradel Case!

Welcome to Alfred's Book Shop! Custom Made High Quality Hardcover Paperback Books!

Are you tired of pulling your favorite 70 year old MAD Paperback book off the shelf to try and re-read it for the 10th time only to have the pages fall out because the binding is cracked and falling apart due to the old glue being dry and brittle? Me too! That's why I have begun restoring these vintage books into hardcovers just like the libraries used to do (only better!)

Current Stock of Custom Hardcover Books For Sale!