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"Old books" aren't generally fragile, but a good percentage of eighteenth century tightbacks are tough to handle if they've not (and sometimes, even if they have) been maintained.   The Johnstone is available through Google Books, and there are nearly a thousand copies for sale currently, from about seventeen dollars if you prefer hardcopy and want to "save" your set from further damage:

http://www.abebooks.com/servlet/SearchResults?sts=t&tn=Chrysal%3A++or%2C+the+Adventures+of+a+Guinea

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Strangely, I never looked online.  Maybe that's where I'll read it.  I am surprised that it is so recently in print.  Thanks.

Bob

I've been having fun making flowers out of old books...

kentworld-

I googled around a bit first to get some ideas-the large flower is from a book called," A Chorus of Birds",by Utamaro. Finished, it's 20" across.I freehand cut the circles out and curved the edges over a wooden spoon handle-the paper was somewhat ridged,so that worked well.

The small flower I used a 1.5" scalloped circle punch-again,curved the edges with the round part of a chopstick. I am working on wine label flowers with cork centers... There are lots of ideas on the web for repurposing books....