The book is case bound in cloth with a silver printed cover and spine label. The spine is almost completely detached from the case due to the book cloth degradation along the hinges and joints. The corners are very loose and require consolidation. The text block is intact although the case opens preferentially at the second leaf. As a consequence of the preferential opening of the book, the first two leaves are detached. The second leaf is moderately torn at the spine edge.
TREATMENT OBJECTIVE
To stabilize the book for general circulation purposes.
Treatment performed was indicated by supervising conservator from the General Libraries.
TREATMENT PROPOSED
Re-case with cloth spine replacement for use in a circulating collection. Clean and consolidate spine of text block. Mend and reattach loose and tipped pages by hinging onto the spine. Keep original front endsheet, consolidate corners and re-adhere original headbands and spine.
TREATMENT PERFORMED
The text block was removed from the case by cutting the overhanging textile and endleaf attachment at hinges. The loose and damaging tips at front and back of text block were removed. The original headbands were removed and soaked in distilled water to remove adhesive.
The tear on the second leaf was mended with wheat starch paste and usui-usimino kozo paper. Usui-usimino hinges were attached to the first and second loose leaves with wheat starch paste.
The spine adhesive and linings were cleaned first mechanically, then with a methyl cellulose poultice applied for 15 - 20 minutes. The spine was consolidated with wheat starch paste. Machine-made kozo paper lining was applied with wheat starch paste. The loose leaves at the front were hinged onto to the lined spine with PVAc. Single-folio #80 text weight endpapers were hinged on to the back of the book with machine-made kozo paper and PVAc.
An overhanging textile lining was applied to the spine with PVAc and then an #70 text weight lining cut to spine size, also with PVAc. The original headbands were re-adhered using PVAc.
The inside of the case was cleaned by removing the back pastedown and overhanging textile with a lifting knife. The covering material was cut along the board edge in preparation for the cloth spine replacement. A cut was made 3 cm from board edge and to the interior turn-ins. The book cloth was carefully lifted along this edge.
The front pastedown was lifted to a distance of 3 cm from spine edge.
The width of spine and the original board placement were measured and a cloth spine replacement was constructed according to these measurements, using a paper-backed cloth, PVAc, and a cover weight spine insert.
The spine replacement piece was adhered to the original boards under the lifted cloth with PVAc.
The corners were consolidated using a micro spatula and precipitated wheat starch paste and allowed to dry.
The book was cased-in at the back.
The over-hanging textile lining was adhered using PVAc underneath the lifted font pastedown and allowed to dry with the book open.
The front pastedown was glued down over the textile lining.
Usui-usimino kozo paper was adhered with wheat starch paste over the front fly leaf and front pastedown.
The spine label was cleaned and trimmed it to fit new spine, then adhered to the cloth spine with PVAc.
MATERIALS USED
Precipitated wheat starch paste (Colophon) mixed 1:4 with distilled water cooked 20 minutes Usui-usimino kozo paper (Hiromi) Methyl cellulose 2.5% dispersed in hot then cold distilled water (Fisher 4000 cps.) Machine-made lightweight kozo paper (Hiromi)
PVAc Cambric Mohawk #70 text and cover weight paper Paper-backed book cloth
