Is this normal for books from Folio or Easton Press?

I only recently started collecting books from publishers like Folio Society, Easton Press, and less expensive ones as well like Everyman's Library and Library of America.

I've frequently gotten books where the text block is either slightly or fully detaching from the backing of the book, if that makes sense. I'm not sure what that part the text block attaches to is called. I'm also not sure if this actually affects a book's long term durability in any way. Is it considered a defect? Because with how often I get books like this, I'd be surprised if it was considered a defect.

I've included a link to some pictures, hopefully it's clear what I mean.

https://imgur.com/a/LCAgOI0

>1 SilverDawn:
That is totally, completely and utterly normal. It is how good books with a sewn binding are made. Books with a glued (inferior) binding do not have this gap.

>2 wcarter: I think I know what you're taking about, and I think we're taking about different parts of the back. I mean the backing that the text block is supposed to be glued to but is coming off in some places. I circled the part I'm taking about:

https://imgur.com/2cXt5q5

>3 SilverDawn: I believe that is a glued-on headband/tailband coming undone.

To the best of my knowledge it is a defect and often happens over time. Not structural. Many of my FS books have done that. I don't know why. I think headbands on better crafted books are sewn on and this does not happen.

You might be able to fix it with a paintbrush and some archival PVA glue. Paint it on both sides, going about half an inch in and close the book for a few hours, but defer to someone who has tried that and can better advise.

>4 PartTimeBookAddict: I've had entire sets from Easton Press come brand new like that, and the same for the other publishers mentioned. Okay, so it's not something I should be worried about affecting how long the book will last in the long run then?

I’ve had Subterranean Press books coming fresh from the publisher with the headband detached. I’ve glued them. It is not a structural defect in any way

And it's not something that should stop me from getting more folio/easton/loa/everyman's books in the future? Because I was getting this specific type of defect often.

Okay, thanks for all the replies. I just wanted to make sure it wasn't something that would affect the book in the long term, especially because these are more expensive than regular books, I wasn't expecting this defect to show up as often as it has for me.

I have about two dozen books with that flaw to various degrees. Usually it will only happen in a thicker (300+ page) book.

If it is almost completely detached I will glue it (very small amount of glue only) otherwise if it is 1/4 or 1/3 detached I just leave it.

The only thing that could possibly get worse is if the band bends in on itself or becomes detached at one end. I bought a book second hand where that happened and it is kind of tucked into the spine sideways.

Also chiming in to say I own a number of books where the band has detached, as >4 PartTimeBookAddict: mentioned it's a very easy fix with some pva glue along and a very thin paintbrush which you can buy very cheaply on amazon. Just dab a little glue in and apply it gently around the detached surface and always use less than you think you need otherwise once you squish the book shut you'll be surprised how much oozes out from compression.

>3 SilverDawn: Knitting needles, toothpicks, pH-neutral PVA glue, et al discussed here: https://www.librarything.com/topic/340826