| Before Treatment* | ||||
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
*This treatment was begun by another conservator. For previous documentation, click here. Treatment Report Date Examined: 9/25/2006 Date Completed: in progress Conservator: Brenna Campbell Instructor: Chela Metzger Author: Richard Ligon Title: A True and Exact History of the Island of Barbadoes Imprint: 1673 Binding Dimensions (cm): H: 30.5 W: 18.6 D: 1.9 Textblock Dimensions (cm): H: 29.1 W: 17.8 D: 1.1 DESCRIPTION AND CONDITION SUMMARY Treatment of this book began in Fall 2005 and consisted of disbinding, washing, and resizing most of the textblock. The disbound leaves, along with the detached boards, several illustrations (some of which fold out), and fragments of paper and leather, are currently housed in a phase box with multiple folder-style enclosures. In preparation for treatment, the back board was detached (the front board had already detached), the tightback leather spine covering was removed and retained, and the textblock was disbound. As the textblock was disbound, detailed drawings were made to record the collation and the arrangement of stubbed maps and illustrations. No further treatment was conducted on the boards or spine. The textblock, along with most of the illustrations, was washed and resized using a dilute solution of gelatin. Although this treatment dramatically improved the handling characteristics of the paper, it remains very lacy and weak along the edges, making it prone to catching and loss. The title page, which had been previously lined with Western paper, was not washed. The fold-out map of the island was also left unwashed. The unwashed components of the textblock are stable enough to handle, and do not require washing, although a tear in the map requires mending. PHOTODOCUMENTATION Digital BT: Ambient Light TREATMENT PROPOSAL The goal of this treatment is to return this book to its original codex format, having stabilized the paper and leather so that the book can be handled and displayed safely. This will require filling the numerous losses to the margins of the textblock, resewing the textblock, and performing a leather reback to infill areas of loss. The steps of the proposed treatment are outlined below. 1. Perform leaf casting on folios with complex losses, and resize as needed 2. Guard uncast folios as needed 3. Stub maps and illustrations 4. Dry clean the title page and fold-out map 5. Mend fold-out map 6. Resew textblock on recessed cords and consolidate with linings and new endbands 7. Reback in sympathetically toned leather, using original boards 8. If possible, readhere original spine over new leather
|
||||