Derry Book 1

Fratris Do, CVM Privilegio, Parisiis (1549) is a full leather binding sewn on tanned leather cords. On receipt the sewing cords were broken at the joint leaving the boards detached from the textblock. The original tanned leather sewing cords were severely deteriorated and no longer supporting the sewing structure. In addition the front and back endpapers and last page of the textblock were folded and damaged.

Due to the sewing cords being so deteriorated they were removed and new linen cords were laced through the original sewing. For a detailed set of images describing this process please go here. Paper repair and guarding was done to the endpapers, last page and first section of the textblock. All repaired pages were then re-sewn to the textblock around the new sewing supports. The repaired textblock was then given a Japanese paper patch lining/flange to consolidate the textblock and attach the boards. The Japanese paper flange and the frayed out sewing supports were attached to the outside of the boards using wheat starch paste. For more images on this process please go here.

With the textblock consolidated and the boards reattached work on the leather case began by cutting it into three pieces (front cover, spine and back cover). This option was chosen as the leather case was shrunk and did not fit around the textblock. A new leather reback was attached to the spine with paste and tied up to give definition around the raised bands. For full photographic details go here. Finally the front and back cover leather and spine was reattached to the book and a custom box was constructed.

Front cover before conservation

Front cover after conservation

View of back cover before conservation

View of back cover after conservation

Inside of front cover and front endleaf before conservation

Inside of front cover and front endleaf after conservation

View of spine before conservation

View of spine after conservation

Derry Book 2

De Angelis Angelioque Honimvm Praesidio Atqve Cvstodia, Tigvri (1595) is a limp vellum binding sewn on alum tawed thongs laced through the cover. On receipt the tawed supports were broken at the point of lacing-in, leaving the textblock loose from the cover. In addition the upper endpaper was missing, leaving the parchment guard loosely attached to the textblock.

Repairs to the textblock included paper repairs to the title page, back endpaper and guarding the first three sections. A new endpaper was also toned and cut to fit the textblock and reattached with the original parchment guard. Prior to reattaching the parchment guard was humidified, flattened and photographed.

Once the paper repair was completed thin braid was attached on top of the original tawed cords by sewing through the original sewing holes and around the old cord and new braid. Braid was chosen rather than new tawed thongs to allow the repaired textblock to fit back into the original case. Once the braid was attached the textblock was given a Japanese patch paper lining adhered with wheat starch paste.

The parchment case was dry cleaned using a smoke sponge and wet cleaned with 50:50 IMS and water. The case was humidified and left to dry around the repaired textblock to maintain its original shape. A toned parchment patch was applied to the spine where a hole left the textblock exposed. Finally the new braid was laced through the original lacing holes and the book was given a custom box.

View of parchment cover before conservation

View of parchment cover after conservation with new braid lacing

Inside cover and title page before conservation

Parchment guard before conservation

Parchment guard after conservation

View of inside cover and new endpaper after conservation

Title page and new endpaper after conservation

View of spine after cleaning and with parchment patch at tail end near the S