TREATMENT REPORT
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Call Number: NA 201 G2 1858 T.2 ARCH
Temporary ID: PCS# 03-123

Title: L'Architecture et Les Arts Qui en Dependent
Imprint: 1856

DESCRIPTION / CONDITION
Covering / Binding
The second in a series of three volumes treated this semester (Volume 1 was conserved by Abby Haywood; Volume 2 was conserved by Beth Heller), L'Architecture is a laced case binding that is completely detached from the textblock. Like Volumes 1 and 3, Volume 2 is a half style binding with grained moroccan sheep skin on the spine and corners and highly starched cloth on the boards. Five false bands are visible on the spine, as are the gold tooled title. The leather is in overall good condition with small abrasions and tears.
Textblock
The textblock consist chiefly of sewn stubs onto which leaves of printed text and lithographic plates are pasted. These pages show signs of foxing. The textblock has several preferential openings and an insufficient paper spine lining that creates a natural hollow. The current opening does not support the stubbed leaves, and causes stress to this critical area of attachment. The sawn-in hemp cords are broken (resulting in the detached case), due to the weak spine linings and the sheer bulk of the textblock. The decorative endleaves are single folio and tipped on, and show signs of deterioration from the leather beneath.

TREATMENT PROPOSAL

TREATMENT

Objective: To strengthen the textblock's consolidation and spine linings such that the opening of the book is eased and damage to the stubbed leaves and case is avoided; to reattach the original case with a hollow tube to strengthen the case to text attachment.

Materials used:

Wheat starch paste (Colophon) - mixed 4:1, cooked for 20 min.
Methyl cellulose (Fisher) - 4000 cp 2.5% mixed in hot, then cold deionized water
Elvace PVAc 45675 (Talas)
Klucel-G in 90% isopropyl alcohol (Talas)
Mohawk Superfine 70lb paper)
Kizukishi (University Products)
Heavy kozo (Hiromi HM-10)
Hewitt Bookcalf (vegetable tanned)
Airplane linen washed in cold distilled water to remove size (Talas)
Acrylic colors mixed with methycellulose

1. The old paper and protein glue linings were swelled with methyl cellulose and removed mechanically.
2. The 2-on sewing of the textblock was evaluated and determined to be sound.
3. Spine linings were added to the spine of the textblock: first the spine was consolidated with a layer of wheat starch paste; then a layer of Kizukishi adhered with wheat starch paste; an overhanging airplane linen lining adhered with PVAc; and finally 2 layers of Mohawk 70 lb paper adhered with PVAc.
4 . Heavyweight Japanese paper (HM-10) was utilized to create a two-on hollow tube that was attached to the spine with PVAc.
5. The resulting spine with its much needed layers of linings was larger than the original. Rather than breaking the joint of the case to add new material that would accomodate the enlarged spine, 3 millimeters of board were removed via delamination at the spine edge on the interior of the case.
6. The spine of the case was lined at the head and tail leather turn-in with Kizukishi as a delamination layer.
7. The hollow tube on the textblock was glued up with PVAc and the case was carefully positioned over the textblock.
8. The overhanging airplane lining was not needed to assist in the text to case attachment and excess was removed.
9. The removed board was determined too wide for the case, leaving a small gap; blotter was inserted into the space and toned with acrylics and colored pencils.
10 . Two layers of Kizukishi were adhered to the exposed leather in the joints.
11. Small strips of leather were overlaid at the head and tail of the inner boards over the Kizukishi joints to replace leather turn-ins.
12. Deteriorated areas of leather on the case were treated with a leather consolidant, Klucel G.
13. A small tear at the tail of the case spine was repaired by inserting a strip of Kizukishi into the hollow space between the case leather and the turn-in, and the tear was mended with wheat starch paste.

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