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| Date Examined: |
September 25, 2006 |
| Date Completed: |
December 1 , 2006 |
| Conservator: |
Melissa Straw |
| Instructor: |
Chela Metzger |
| Kilgarlin Center Temporary ID: |
06-95 |
| Owner/Custodian: |
Architecture Library Special Collections, University of Texas at Austin |
| Curator: |
Janine Henri |
| Author: |
Unknown |
| Title: |
Le premier tome de l’architecture de Philibert de l’Orme |
| Imprint: |
1568 |
| Binding Dimensions (cm): |
H: 38.3 W: 26.5 T: 4.3 |
| Text block Dimensions (cm): |
H: 37.4 W: 24.5 T: 3.5 |
Authorization
The undersigned requests and authorizes the Kilgarlin Center at the University of Texas-Austin, to undertake conservation treatment of the artifact described in the attached Condition Report according to the procedures outlined in the appended Treatment Proposal. In the event that the Owner/Custodian authorizes the Kilgarlin Center to proceed with the treatment recommended in the proposal such authorization shall be deemed to include acceptance by the depositor of the terms and conditions appearing in the original Authorization for Examination and Treatment.
Signature of Responsible Officer
For Owner/Custodian: ____________________________________
Date: ____________________________________
Treatment Objective
To stabilize book for safe handling. To create exhibit drop spine box for storage and exhibition purposes.
Historical Significance
This item is the oldest volume in the Architecture Library at the University of Texas. Additionally, it is from the library of the architect, Paul Philippe Cret, of UT Austin’s landmark tower. This volume is frequently shown to visiting dignitaries and requires a special presentation drop spine box which will also serve as a book cradle.
Condition and Description Summary
Binding:
The volume is bound in a full-leather, tight-back, rigid board binding that has a laced-on board structure. The leather is a light brown, vegetable tanned goat skin.
The spine is blind and gold tooled and has five false raised bands. There is a red leather spine label between the first and second raised band with the title in gold tooling.
The boards are laced onto the text with four sewing tapes. There is a stuck-on endband around a core of leather. The endband covering material is black and white striped cloth.
The spine piece is detached from the text along approximately 2/3 of the top of the spine. There are areas of the leather along the spine at the head and tail which have been wet and now exhibit a burned look characteristic of leather that has received too much water. Areas of abrasion of the leather exist along the head and tail of the spine with various pieces of abraded leather tenuously attached.
The cover to text attachment is still intact. The front board, while still attached, is popping up approximately 1 cm from the text block.
There are ownership marks at the tail of the spine and in the top upper left corner of the front board.
Text:
The text is a first edition second issue with woodblock illustrations. The text was printed in black printer's ink on handmade, laid, cream colored paper. The paper is in excellent condition and has a very nice drape. The edges of the text are colored red.
Photodocumentation
Before and After Treatment: Digital photographs in ambient light
Treatment Proposal
-
Re-adhere upper two-thirds of spine
-
Consolidate leather on abraded areas
-
Make an exhibit drop spine box
Treatment Performed
-
Mechanically lifted leather at head on front and back boards approximately 3 cm in length and 3 cm in width.
-
Adhered a strip of airplane cotton with wheat starch paste to front board and let dry.
-
After the airplane cotton had dried it was adhered to the spine and under the lifted leather on the back cover with pressure to ensure the front board would lie flatter to the text block.
-
Using acrylics, uso-usomino was toned to match abraded leather color on spine.
-
Two strips of toned Japanese paper were adhered with wheat starch paste on top of the airplane cotton at the front and back boards.
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A flange of Hiromi heavy-weight paper was cut and adhered with wheat starch paste on the semi-detached spine piece as a V-hinge.
-
Consolidated the leather using Klucel G for a total of two applications.
-
Created a drop spine box with cradles in both trays for dual exhibition and housing purposes.
Materials Used
Airplane cotton
Uso-Usomino
Hiromi heavy-weight Japanese paper
Acrylics
Wheat starch paste
Mylar
Archival book cloth
Binder’s board
Sewing tape
Klucel G
