CLIENT INFORMATION
Name: Client Information removed for privacy
Date Recieved: 3/18/2008
Date Recieved: 3/18/2008Address: Deadline: n/a
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Email: ITEM INFORMATION
Title: Grimm’s Fairy Tales
Author: Translated by L.L. Weedon
Place of Publication: New York, E.P. Dutton & Co.
Date of Publication: Unknown
Type of Binding: Case binding – publisher’s cloth
Other:
CONDITION UPON RECEIPT
The book has been disbound and pulled by a previous (unknown) binder in preperation for repair. None of the original sewing remains.
The volume is without a spine piece, although the original cloth remains. The previous binder had begun to prepare this book for a reback with the boards off, and in doing do trimmed the cloth spine piece. The cloth on the boards was also trimmed and lifted, as was the pastedown. Because the pastedowns are brittle, the paper here was not lifted, but removed completely (Figs. 1a, 2a)
A number of the color plates, which were originally tipped in, have come lose and were then reattched with heavy cloth tape. This has caused considerable stress to the paper of both leaves, and has lead to cracking of the textblock paper in many places. The adhesive has dried up, leaving a yellowed, flaking mess. Tape can be observed on the following leaves:
pp. 6-7; pp. 7-8 (Fig. 3a, 4a); pp. 64-plate (Fig. 5a); plate pp.65; pp. 82-plate (Fig. 6a).
In addition, evidence of tape removal already carried out shows on page 30-31.
The cloth at all four corners is very worn, with the orginal strawboard showing through (Fig.8a). The cloth on the back cover has cockled (Fig. 7a).
All pages of the textblock are dirty, and pencil scribbles are present on some pages.
textblock has suffered considerable damage; the cord used to fasten the cover on has sawn through the majority of the pages, some are stained or stuck together with foodstuffs (Fig. 4a), many are torn and some have considerable losses. (Fig. 9 ) Detached pages are no longer properly collated, and the title page and first chapter are missing (although the index and a portion of the preface remain) (Fig. 3a).
The sewing is broken in many places, and many sections are loose.
The spine is poorly lined with blue paper.
The case is extremely dirty and worn; the spine piece and half of the front board is missing (Fig. 1a, 2a), although the two of the three rivets from the rear board are still attached to the cord. The back board has broken and is detached along the joint (Fig. 5a).
TREATMENT OBJECTIVE
To make the book a useable copy, while preserving evidence of use.
TREATMENT PROPOSAL
1)Remove previous “repairs” carried out with cloth tape, using heat when necessary.
Remove previous “repairs” carried out with cloth tape, using heat when necessary. 2)Reattach detached plates with a v-hinge, using Japanese tissue and paste.
Reattach detached plates with a v-hinge, using Japanese tissue and paste.3)Apply tissue guards with paste to outer leaves of all damaged sections. As few sections as possible should be guarded to prevent unnecessary swell from forming.
Apply tissue guards with paste to outer leaves of all damaged sections. As few sections as possible should be guarded to prevent unnecessary swell from forming.4)Re-sew the textblock, including a paper hinge dyed to match the pastedown so that the book may be cased in without discarding the original printed pastedowns.
Re-sew the textblock, including a paper hinge dyed to match the pastedown so that the book may be cased in without discarding the original printed pastedowns. 5)Stabilize the frayed corners of the boards.
Stabilize the frayed corners of the boards.6)Reback the book with airplane linen dyed to match the original cloth.
Reback the book with airplane linen dyed to match the original cloth.TREATMENT PREFORMED
1) 1)The cloth tape “repairs” made to lose pages/plates were removed with a micro spatula. The adhesive was so brittle, that the use of heat was not necessary. The flaking adhesive was simply brushed away.
1)The cloth tape “repairs” made to lose pages/plates were removed with a micro spatula. The adhesive was so brittle, that the use of heat was not necessary. The flaking adhesive was simply brushed away.2)All of the volume’s color plates had originally been tipped in. Since the plates are printed on heavier paper than the textblock, the textblock paper was cracking in many places causing the plates to become detached. The decision was made to remove all of the plates to maintain stability of the textblock over time. These were numbered and set aside.
All of the volume’s color plates had originally been tipped in. Since the plates are printed on heavier paper than the textblock, the textblock paper was cracking in many places causing the plates to become detached. The decision was made to remove all of the plates to maintain stability of the textblock over time. These were numbered and set aside.3)All of the sections were guarded on the outer folio, using kizukishi, and Aytex-P paste, made with distilled water and buffered to a pH of 9. Any necessary paper repairs were also carried out at this time, including the joining of detached leaves.
All of the sections were guarded on the outer folio, using kizukishi, and Aytex-P paste, made with distilled water and buffered to a pH of 9. Any necessary paper repairs were also carried out at this time, including the joining of detached leaves.4)The color plates were hinged in using a v-hinge applied to the back of the plate, which was then wrapped around the remainder of the section. In cases where this was not possible because it required applying the hinge to a section that had already been guarded or joined, the plate was adhered to a loose guard made of sekishu. (Fig. 5b, 6b)
The color plates were hinged in using a v-hinge applied to the back of the plate, which was then wrapped around the remainder of the section. In cases where this was not possible because it required applying the hinge to a section that had already been guarded or joined, the plate was adhered to a loose guard made of sekishu. (Fig. 5b, 6b)5)The corners of the boards were consolidated with paste and left to dry.
The corners of the boards were consolidated with paste and left to dry.6)The textblock was then re-sewn with 25/3 linen thread in link stitch, reusing the original holes. A loose guard constructed of Mohawk Vellum Light applied around the first and last sections. This paper closely matched the original endsheets, and served as the means by which the book was later cased-in (Fig. 3b, 4b).
The textblock was then re-sewn with 25/3 linen thread in link stitch, reusing the original holes. A loose guard constructed of Mohawk Vellum Light applied around the first and last sections. This paper closely matched the original endsheets, and served as the means by which the book was later cased-in (Fig. 3b, 4b).7)The spine was glued up with paste.
The spine was glued up with paste.8)The spine was then lined as follows:
The spine was then lined as follows: 1st - Kizukishi/paste2nd - Extended cambric lining/PVA3rd & 4th - Gutenberg/PVAThis created an opening which allowed the book to lay open flat, without excess throw-up (Fig.9)9)Airplane cotton was sized with paste, and then dyed to match the original cloth, using Liquitex and Golden acrylics mixed with paste.
Airplane cotton was sized with paste, and then dyed to match the original cloth, using Liquitex and Golden acrylics mixed with paste.10)A new spine piece was made from binder’s board of a similar thickness to that of the covers. The case was reconstructed using the dyed airplane cotton. (Fig. 1b)
A new spine piece was made from binder’s board of a similar thickness to that of the covers. The case was reconstructed using the dyed airplane cotton. (Fig. 1b)11)The extended cloth lining was trimmed back so that it would not extend beyond the trim line on the original boards. The loose guard was trimmed back to meet this point exactly, and then pared slightly so as not to create a hard line. The book was cased in with PVA. (Fig. 2b, 2c, 2d)
The extended cloth lining was trimmed back so that it would not extend beyond the trim line on the original boards. The loose guard was trimmed back to meet this point exactly, and then pared slightly so as not to create a hard line. The book was cased in with PVA. (Fig. 2b, 2c, 2d)12) The lifts were re-adhered with PVA, and the fraying cloth corners of the boards were consolidated with PVA to prevent further wear. (Fig. 8b)
The lifts were re-adhered with PVA, and the fraying cloth corners of the boards were consolidated with PVA to prevent further wear. (Fig. 8b)PHOTOGRAPHIC DOCUMENTATION
North Bennet Street School
39 North Bennet Street
Boston MA 02113
Bookbinding Department
Rebecca (Bexx) Caswell, student
bexx@centerfuse.net
Bexx CaswellBookbinding and Conservation PortfolioCONSERVATION TREATMENTS
