CLIENT INFORMATION
Name: Client Information removed for privacy
Date Recieved: 11/2009
Date Recieved: 11/2009Address: Deadline:
Deadline:Telephone: Email:
Email: ITEM INFORMATION
Title: A Christmas Carol
Author: Charles Dickens ; Illustrated by Arthur Rackham
Imprint: London: William Heinemann Ltd., 1958
Type of Binding: Full leather tight back, sewn in sawn in cords.
Other: Flyleaf is stamped with “Bayntun, Binder, Bath, Eng.”
CONDITION UPON RECEIPT
Binding: Both boards are dettached, and the spine piece has is lifting from the spine (Figs. 1a, 4a). Portions of the spine piece at the head and tail have become dettached; the tail piece arrived with the book, the head piece did not (Fig. 2a). There are two labels on the spine – one for the title/author, and a second noting the illutrator. Both labels suffer from a mild case of red rot, and the latter has ripped, leaving a loss (Fig. 2a). Overall, the binding’s leather is in very good condition, with some scuffing. Sewn single core endbands in red and white are in excellent condition.
Textblock: All 3 edges are gilt. The textblock is in excellent condition, with a minimal amount of acid burn from the flyleaf on the first and last pages (Fig. 5). The opening is stiff, but adequate (Fig 3a). No other problems are noted.
TREATMENT OBJECTIVE
To return the book to a functional copy, while maintaining its appearance. The client has requested that losses to the spine labels and gold tooling on the spine be restored.
TREATMENT PROPOSAL
1)Leather reback with matching smooth grain red leather.
Leather reback with matching smooth grain red leather.2)Fill the loss in the spine label using toned Japanese tissue.
Fill the loss in the spine label using toned Japanese tissue.3)Paint in losses in the gold tooling on the spine using shell gold which matches the original gold tooling.
Paint in losses in the gold tooling on the spine using shell gold which matches the original gold tooling.TREATMENT PREFORMED
1)A Brockman style leather reback was preformed, using German airplane cotton as a hinging/lining material and a smooth grain red leather (Fig. 1b).
A Brockman style leather reback was preformed, using German airplane cotton as a hinging/lining material and a smooth grain red leather (Fig. 1b).2)The inner hinge was repaired with heavy Japanese tissue, toned to match the endpapers with acrylics (Fig. 4b).
The inner hinge was repaired with heavy Japanese tissue, toned to match the endpapers with acrylics (Fig. 4b).3)The loss to the spine label was repaired with heavy Japanese tissue, toned with acrylics to match (Fig. 2c)
The loss to the spine label was repaired with heavy Japanese tissue, toned with acrylics to match (Fig. 2c)4)Scuffed leather was touched up with sellaset leather dye from the Leather Conservation Centre.
Scuffed leather was touched up with sellaset leather dye from the Leather Conservation Centre.5)Losses in the gold tooling were in painted, with homemade shell gold.
Losses in the gold tooling were in painted, with homemade shell gold.6)The volume was coated with a 2% solution of Klucel-G, avoiding the gold tooling to prevent creating a cloudy finish.
The volume was coated with a 2% solution of Klucel-G, avoiding the gold tooling to prevent creating a cloudy finish. PHOTOGRAPHIC DOCUMENTATION
Bexx CaswellBookbinding and Conservation PortfolioCONSERVATION TREATMENTS
White Sparrow Bindery
Bexx Caswell, Bookbinder
whitesparrowbindery@yahoo.com
www.bexxcaswell.com
