Can I repair damage to a old leather back book, without disassembling it? (Small "pull out book with finger damage")

Hi,

## Refining the question/description:
Can I repair the damage without removing the whole back or similar? (Those are the only type of repair tutorials I find on Google)
I'm new in book collecting and have no experience in repairing and I don't want to use the books in my collection as training books :)

I would hope I could use some kind of cream to soften the leather.
Then use some special kind of glue to reattach the lose part.
Maybe use a small piece of thin leather or something as a reinforcement on the inside?

## The question
If there is a method like this, what is the workflow and what are the products to use.

Also, since I'm collecting old books, it's important for me that the repair method is an accepted way of keeping a old book alive.
I'm not just repairing to keep on reading. I want to repair and preserve it to get the book to "Very Good" condition.

## Photos
The book in the photos below is from 1946 and has this type of damage on its back. Other than that it in in "Very Good" condition.

-Photos of the damage from different angles
https://drive.google.com/file/d/11j1Qof6ldSXHE8b6h4pvA8GEmU7cKKdv/view?usp=shari...
https://drive.google.com/file/d/12u8dNIfNy5LARRgWm0xyqTfvPGEeVOoT/view?usp=shari...
https://drive.google.com/file/d/19fFO4szOzzobOIPhhg96-qx4ypEjQxc9/view?usp=shari...
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1mlR5FkTEIgiz2Oyp7pJ9PP59jSYWm6j7/view?usp=shari...
(The book: https://www.librarything.com/work/11984679/summary/244608356)

That particular type of damage can indeed be repaired w/o needing de-construction.

It requires either a thin strip of leather or one of book cloth of a color similar to the spine of the book being repaired and a PVA adhesive. You work the leather/cloth under and in between the existing leather using a thin tool (I've used a palette knife) after having first applied a thin coat of adhesive to the strip, then pressing and shaping the cover leather with a bone folder or other smooth, hard tool, then setting it aside for a few days to thoroughly dry. Done carefully, the repair should not be overly noticeable unless a piece of the cover leather is missing.

I have done this type of repair many times. It just requires patience and care.

PVA (polyvinyl acetate) adhesives come in several types. Elmer's white glue is one, but as that dries hard, it is not recommended for use in bookbinding. I have always used Jade 403 available from TALAS and other suppliers. They don't ship this product in the winter, as it is ruined if it freezes, so the time to buy it is now. I have also successfully used Tandy's Leather Weld as well.

>2 Glacierman: Thank you very mush :)