NS Conservation LLC offers a full range of conservation and preservation services including but not limited to:

-Book and Paper Conservation

-Bespoke Enclosures

-Equipment Maintenance

-Matting and Framing

-Bookbinding

Please click on the images for more information about a certain topic.

Quotes for service are available in person or estimates are available via email if not local to St. Louis, MO.

NS Conservation LLC does not offer a standard price list because every job is unique. There are too many variables (including the condition of the textblock, type of cloth or leather, variety of papers, style of headbands, etc.) to give an estimate without seeing the project. As a general rule, most ordinary books cost more to repair (and sometimes far more) than they do to replace. For that reason, most of our labor is directed to books and objects that are irreplaceable: family heirlooms, rare or antiquarian material, fine bindings, and Bibles that have become old friends.

We are happy to take a look at any project and to provide a variety of treatment options. There is a minimum assessment fee of $125, however if the project moves forward the paid assessment fee will be credited to the project. Our goal is for your project to have a successful outcome.

Repairing books, whether it is a 16th century text or a 20th century Bible, is always a unique process. This can include but is not limited to cleaning, tear mending, tape removal, reattaching covers, new covers, new spines, or stamping. All with the goal of improving the access and usability of these items.

Paper objects, from sculptures to maps to prints all present different challenges. Sometimes they’ve been taped back together or stored against a piece of cardboard. Cleaning, washing, humidifying, flattening, repairing, and stain reduction are all options to increase the life of these items.

Conserving and repairing items is a wonderful step towards long-term preservation. But sometimes it’s only the first step. The next step is a bespoke enclosure, ranging from folders to leather covered clamshell boxes, these enclosures help ensure the long term preservation of items by preventing the nicks and bumps of time.

Through years of tinkering, moving, disassembling, and assembling board shears NS Conservation has developed a deep understanding of how these machines work. NS Conservation offers onsite board shear maintenance, assembly, and/or disassembly. Please contact for more details.

One of the best parts about conserving an item is getting to show it off. Museum grade matting allows items to go back in an existing frame or a new frame can be procured, of course with UV filtering glazing, to best display the item.

It is not possible to conserve books without knowing how to make them. To that end NS Conservation offers custom bookbinding offers for everything from dissertations to blank journals to upscaling the binding on your favorite mass market book.