reconstructed binding
A now virtually obsolete form of library binding
applied to a pre-library bound book, in which the
volume is removed from its case, resewn, and then
placed back into the original case. In general, a
reconstructed binding may be either a rebinding or
a first binding, depending on whether the book is
received in a hard cover, or in a self-cover or
gathering. The purpose of this type of binding
supposedly was to provide the book with a form of
sewing (oversewing) that was stronger than the
original, thus enabling the book to withstand more
circulations. (102
, 164 )