Originally Posted by Heston
If you get a new logbook and copy everything into it neatly the CAA are going to doubt the veracity of the entries (otherwise known as "Parker" hours, after the pen). Also presumably your instructor has been signing the lesson entries - you'd have to persuade him/her to sign again. Messy is good - it will be a much better memento of your flying as time goes on.
Bit of a dilemma if one's logbook has found its way into the wrong hands and suffered damage such as indelible graffiti...