The aim of conservation work is to retain the uniqueness of each book that comes into the binderyBook
conservation work requires an initial assessment of each book to decide
the best method of treatment and repair. The work is agreed with the
client before the work commences. All stages of conservation are
documented and conservation standard materials and techniques are used. We seek to return the book to a stable
condition with minimal compromise to the original structure and
materials used to construct the book. Examples of recent conservation works can be seen below.Conservation work: The intention of the conservation work was to return the book to a usable condition while retaining the original binding structure, stabilise the printed ephemera and MS ink contents and retain some of the well-used appearance of the original covering leather. Before
During
The condition of the book was recorded using written and photographic documentation. The covering leather, paper and inks were examined to determine manufacture and deterioration. The covering leather was carefully cleaned with a soft brush to reduce surface dirt deposits. Exposed areas of leather grain were treated with consolidant to reduce surface porosity that causes age hardening. The printed ephemera and MS pages were cleaned with chemical sponge and plastic eraser to reduce surface dirt. The broken sewing was recorded and removed and replaced. The damaged calf leather clothings were replaced with more stable alum tawed skin clothings. A new hollow was made of archival quality paper and paste and attached to the book with aerolinen. The linings were incorporated into the new flange style board attachment. New leather pieces for the spine and corner losses were prepared using Hewits archival quality book calf and leather dyes. The original spine leather was treated, repaired and reattached to the binding. After
After completion of the conservation work that binding was measured for protective housing during storage. An agreement was reached with the client to house the book is a bookshoe to ensure basic protection of the binding while still being able to view the spine details on the shelf. top of page Conservation of a large format 17thC Map book Conservation work: The intention of the conservation work was to stabilise the existing binding structure, improve the appearance and strength of the text leaves and plates and retain as much of the original covering leather as possible. Before
During
The covering leather was carefully cleaned with a soft brush under extraction to remove the degraded grain layer of the leather caused by advanced acid decay. The leather was then treated with Cellugel and SC6000. The text leaves and maps were all cleaned with inert smoke sponge and eraser to reduce the heavy soiling and allow further repair work. The frontispiece had been glued to the title page with a thick layer of animal glue and this was released using local humidifcation. All maps were then repaired with suitable weight and tone Japanese repair papers and Griffen Mill handmade papers. After
Once the work was completed the book was housed in a cloth-covered, drop back box constructed of conservation standard adhesives and materials. Plastazote supports to be placed under any map during consultation are included in the box. top of page Conservation of a small 18thC Book of Common Prayer Conservation work: The intention of the conservation work was to stabilise the existing binding structure, text leaves and covering leather, while retaining as much of the evidence of use of the book as possible. Before
During
To begin with the covering leather and text leaves were cleaned to remove surface dirt and allow further conservation work. The cover was detached to allow for the repair of the text pages and resewing. At the same time the covering leather was treated and repaired to prevent further losses. After
The cover was then reattached and
the book was returned to the owner in its bespoke box to ensure
protection during storage and handling. |
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