A History of Greek Classical Literature, 1853
A project book during my first year of studying book conservation, this was the first time working with leather dyeing and a leather spine replacement. In addition to this, the textblock was detached from the right board and missing its left board and endpaper. The textblock also had a preferential opening in the middle.
Before treatment
Fiber cohesion tests demonstrate that the leather on the right board is in different stages of deterioration. Image #1 is from the lower board corner, indicating that the leather is incredibly weak. The other two images are from different panels on the spine, showing that the panels are in varying states of deterioration. The fibers from the panel under the label, Image #2, are still clumped and long. Image #3 is of the last panel on the spine, or, what’s left of it. The fibers are shorter and pulling apart more, meaning that the leather is in a weaker state.
Removal of the deteriorating spine linings revealed multiple non-used sewing sections, all filled with the glue used to adhere the old spine linings. The glue seeped into the cuts made and settled in the gutter of the pages.
Treatment
Textblock
Removal of spine lining using wheat starch poultice
Reshaping of preferential opening
Paper repairs and infills
First bifolio reattached to textblock with tissue hinges
Last few pages tipped back together and last page hinged to spine
New spine linings of document cotton and hahnmuhle
New hollow and false raised bands made from manila
Replacement flyleaf and pastedown for left board made with toned paper
Binding
Right board reattachment with flanges in a split board
Left board replacement and attachment with flanges in a split board
Full leather spine repair with dyed archival calf and paste
Endcap creation with new spine leather
Adhesion of the remaining spine panels onto the new spine leather with paste
Book shoe created for housing
