Treatment Report
Call Number: -F- NA 5471 L7 W5 1819 ARCH
Temporary I.D. #: PCS 03-113
Conservator: W. Kraemer
Title: An Illustration of the Architecture and Sculpture of the Cathedral Church
of Lincoln.
Imprint: 1819
Covering/binding
The item is a tight-back rigid board structure covered in paper. Both boards are
completely detached. The covering material is in very poor condition. The paper
is abraded and torn, and there are areas of exposed board. The boards are
heavily deteriorated, especially at the corners.
Textblock
The text block is oversewn, and has a slight round. There is a canvas lining
adhered directly to the spine. The textblock is fully intact except for the
first endsheet, which is detached. The leaves are heavy soiled, with numerous
finger prints and light stains. There is water damage and mold
Treatment
Proposal:
1. Remove spine linings.
2. Consolidate spine
3. Reback using Japanese tissue.
4. Tack down loose areas of paper covering material and doublures.
5. Consolidate corners if possible.
6. House in acid-free enclosure.
Treatment:
The objective of this treatment was to improve the ability to handle the book without causing further damage. This was achieved by reconsolidating the textblock, reattaching the boards, consolidating the boards, and housing the item.
Materials:
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
Wheat starch paste/methyl cellulose mix (50/50)
PVA (Elvase)
Kizukishi (University Products)
Heavy kozo (Hiromi HM-10)
Moriki paper (Aikos)
Aero linen, washed in deionized water
70# Mohawk superfine paper
20 point board
linen tape
Procedures:
1. Mechanically removed the cloth spine lining. The cloth lining was washed in warm deionized water, and retained for possible reuse
2. The adhesive on the spine was softened with a methyl cellulose poultice, and removed with a bone folder.
3. The spine was reconsolidated with wheat starch paste, and lined with kizukishi. The adhered lining was allowed to dry overnight.
4. The recto and verso of the detached fly-leaf were dry cleaned with vinyl eraser crumbs.
5. The detached flyleaf was hinged on to the text block with kizukishi.
6. An overhanging lining of aero linen was adhered to the spine with wheat starch paste.
7. The spine was lined with two layers of 70# paper, adhered with wheat starch paste.
8. The detached boards were split with a lifting knife.
9.The boards were reattached to the text block by placing the overhanging edges of the linen lining in the split portion of the board and adhering with PVA/methyl cellulose mix.
10. A light brown moriki paper was toned with acrylics to match the original paper covering the boards.
11.The toned moriki was adhered directly to the paper spine linings and the top of the boards with a wheat starch paste/methyl cellulose mix.
12.Toned kizukishi was adhered to the edge of the lifted board in an effort to create a smooth edge. The smoother edge will prevent abrasion and damage during handling.
13.The original doublures and covering material were tacked down where necessary with wheat starch paste.
14. A strip of heavy kozo was placed along the inner joint, and adhered with wheat starch paste. Pastels were used on the kozo to help blend with the original endpapers.
15.The lifted portion of the split board was put down with PVA/methyl cellulose mix.
16.The book was housed in a four-flap wrapper constructed with 20-point board and linen tape.