Hi people!

I recently ordered a mint copy of the PHB from a gentleman in the United Kingdom. It arrived in Sweden yesterday and I was able to collect it today. It was obviously a perfect catch and in the exact condition I was looking for - before it was shipped. As you can see on the attached pictures, the book is severely bent (notice the hilarious "handle with care, don't bend etc" sticker on the envelope).

Anyway, I'm sure I will be able to work something out with the seller, even though Ebay is obviously to blame (item sent through the Ebay Global Shipping Program, after all). Now, after screaming my lungs out in desperation and fury for half an hour, I thought that maybe at least it could be used as a throwaway copy to bring to conventions and what not for use in actual play, if I could at least un-bend it somehow.

Therefore I am consulting you, wise souls. What is the best way (if it's even possible) to re-shape a seriously bent book? Right now, I put it under a stack of thick hardbacks, on top of which I stacked a dozen or so food plates, hoping that the weight will be enough to press it back.

Does anyone have other/better recommendations?

dbartman wrote in Book damaged during shipment - possible to bend back?:Ugh, that's unbelievable!  You should get a full refund from eBay shipping.

Yes, I have been in contact with the seller and he is very helpful. Given how cheap I got a copy in such a good shape though (it's almost as if no-one has even flipped through it, with super crisp pages etc), getting a full refund will only improve my mood slightly.

There's little hope for that book as it looks like the cover skin has separated from the underlying material.

I figured as much, but if I can get it more or less flat, at least I can use it as a gaming copy that I don't have to be careful with, that I can make notes in etc.

 Your best bet is to reverse bend it carefully.  Flex it gently at first, along the same line of the original bend, then continue the process until you get some semblance of the original shape back.

Once you have the bend reversed as best you can, apply a consider amount of weight to it for several days, or weeks if possible, so that it will hopefully be mostly flattened.  I would suggest at least 100 lbs. or more, if you have anything that heavy readily available.  It should be sandwiched between two rigid, flat, materials, such as wood, metal, or books you aren't concerned about.

Yup, I did exactly that

Some nice books there

Post some pictures afterwards so we can see how it turns out.