Reddit reviews Hand Bookbinding: A Manual of Instruction

I don't think that just being somewhat old is enough to make the book valuable. For instance, ABE Books lists over 8,000 history books published between 1880 and 1890 that are $20 or less that are located in the U.S.A..

If you want to try restoring it yourself, that could be fun. In that case, I recommend that you get a copy of Aldrin A. Watson's Hand Bookbinding: A Manual of Instruction. It talks about both creating new books from scratch, and how to restore old books, and also talks about how to make the requisite equipment.

I do bookbinding as a hobby. Some great introductory books are:

• Manly Banister - The Craft of Bookbinding
  
• A.W. Lewis - Basic Bookbinding
  
• Aldren A. Watson - Hand Bookbinding: A Manual of Instruction
  
  Two good resources to order bookbinding supplies online are:
  
  
• Hollander's
  
• Volcano Arts
  
  If you're having trouble finding Davey board (the most common material used to make the "hard covers") you can also look in craft, art, and hardware stores for millboard/chipboard. It's much better if you can find somewhere local to purchase it -- shipping is a pain, and large sheets are out of the question. Personally, I buy millboard from an art supply store called Opus.
  
  --
  
  In terms of tools, you'll want a lying press and plow, and some sort of book press. You'll quickly find that prices for these items from sellers of bookbinding equipment can be exorbitant. Thankfully they're obtainable or reproducible through other methods -- you could sub in a cloth-wrapped board with some weights on it instead of a screw press, for example.
  
  --
  
  A sewing frame is definitely something you'll need to look into purchasing or making. If you can't afford either option, here's a great tutorial on turning a chair into one:
  Evilrooster Bookweb: Chair Sewing Frame
  
  Some slightly more vague instructions on making one out of an encyclopedia:
  papergail: sewing frame and cradle in one
  
  Further, this seller on eBay has some on the cheap:
  sq12tk | eBay

Check out Sea Lemon's videos on YouTube. And [this book](hand bookbinding: A Manual of Instruction https://www.amazon.com/dp/048629157X/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_vQyWCbR9YZAKD) can be a useful starting reference.

Enjoy the ride down the rabbit hole of bookbinding!

I would recommend this book:
http://www.amazon.com/Craft-Bookbinding-Manly-Banister/dp/0486278522

I own it and have just started bookbinding. I finished my first today actually.

I also have this one, but I don't like it as much:
http://www.amazon.com/Hand-Bookbinding-Instruction-Aldren-Watson/dp/048629157X/ref=pd_sim_b_1

One tip for getting the pages too look old: try aging them with coffee or tea.