Conservation of a 1791 Quarter Vellum & Paste Paper Binding

Conservation treatment of a water-damaged volume, focused on stabilising vulnerable areas while retaining its original vellum spine, spotted paste-paper sides and laminated board structure.

The project

This octavo volume is bound in quarter vellum with spotted paste-paper sides over laminated paper boards. Its handmade laid-paper textblock includes a single fold-out plate, with endbands at the head and tail.

Historical water exposure had left the vellum spine severely deformed and partially detached. The boards were cockled and delaminating around the corners and edges, while the paste-paper covering was abraded, lifting and locally lost. The textblock showed extensive tidelines, ingrained surface dirt and numerous creased leaves, including a particularly distorted fold-out plate.

Conservation approach

Treatment was deliberately limited to areas where deformation or material loss affected the stability and handling of the volume. The covers and textblock were surface cleaned, while heavily creased leaves and the distorted fold-out plate were locally humidified and flattened in situ.

The vellum spine was gradually reshaped using 2% agarose gel and dried under light restraint. Delaminating board edges and lifting paste paper were secured using wheat starch paste and very lightweight toned Tengujo tissue, retaining the original covering materials and their surface character.

Outcome

Treatment reduced the most severe distortions, secured the delaminating boards and vulnerable paste-paper covering, and improved the condition of heavily creased areas within the textblock. The volume is now more stable and safer to handle, while its original vellum, paste paper, boards, sewing and endbands have been retained.

Water staining, abrasion and other evidence of the book’s age and history remain visible. A custom clamshell box provides protection in storage and gently supports the reshaped vellum spine over time.