Got back on the bench for the first time in a long while. This tape residue on a beautiful handtooled binding just demanded to be picked at… On further inspection, I saw that it had a binder’s signature: “Bound by Ramage”. John Ramage was a British born binder who worked in France after his apprenticeship […]
Three different approaches to general collections conservation treatment (from L-R): Reusing the original boards and spine, with the spine and boards rejoined together using new bookcloth A brand new case made with all new decorative elements, and no reuse of any materials from the original case, with some artistic liberties taken compared to the original […]
Information about this item Date: September 7, 2007 Conservator: Suzy Morgan Instructor: Chela Metzger Call Number/Collection: Personal Author: n/a Imprint: Philadelphia, 1830 Title: Journal of Health, Volume 1 Collation/foliation: 50 double-folio sections, sewn three-on. Format: Quarto Dimensions (binding): H 22.4 x W 14.7 x T 3 (cm) Dimensions (text block): H 21.7 x W 13.5 […]
Information about this item Date: July 2009 Conservator: Suzy Morgan Call Number/Collection: SPEC 831.5 061d, Northwestern University Library, Special Collections Author: Martin Opitz Imprint: Breslau, 1637 Title: Martini Opitti Deutscher Poematum Dimensions (binding): H 22.4 x W 14.7 x T 3 (cm) Dimensions (text block): H 21.7 x W 13.5 x T 2.7 (cm) Treatment […]
Information about object Date: 10/23/07 PCS Identification number: 08-34 Owner/Custodian: Center for American History Title/Subject/Description: February 3, 1843 Letter from Sam Houston Creator: Sam Houston Date of production: February 3, 1843 Place of production: Executive Apartment, Washington Treatment Report Description Dimensions (Primary Support):English: 26.02” H x 36.18” LMetric: 66.1 cm H x cm 91.9 cm […]
This was a batch treatment of seven volumes in which the loose boards were reattached and the spine leather replaced with treated Moriki paper. Date: January 1, 2009 Call Number/Collection: Northwestern University Library, 980 C691 (7 volumes) Imprint: Imprenta de Devisme hermanos (Caracas), 1826-29 Title: Colecction de Documentos relativos a la vida publica del liberatador […]
Ira Alrdidge theater broadsides Date: January 27, 2009 Owner/Custodian: Northwestern University Library Special Collections Title/Subject/Description (.01): Ira Aldridge theater broadside Creator: W. Reynolds (9 Exeter Street, London) Date of production: London Place of production: 1833 Before Treatment Front (Left Half): Ambient Light Front (Left Half): Raking Light Back (Left Half): Ambient Light Back (Left Half): […]
Today I’m working on a treatment that is basically the rare book equivalent of cleaning under the couch cushions. This 2-volume herbal was used by a previous owner as a plant press, and many leaves, flowers and other assorted plant parts were discovered in-between its pages by our special collections librarian. The plants had already […]
Sometimes being a book conservator means you have to do a little dental work on Dracula’s fangs. This is a pop-up book that’s going into an upcoming exhibit in our library – unfortunately, one side of Dracula’s teeth had become detached and pushed back into his mouth. Using tweezers, I carefully unfolded his teeth, and […]
Some before and after photos of a recent mold remediation treatment I’ve been working on. It’s a collection of more than a hundred architectural drawings, paintings, and photographic reproductions that were damaged by mold prior to their acquisition by the library. Fortunately, most of the mold damage is on the edges of the supports or […]