Category Archives: Preservation training

Conservation of Piranesi bound etchings: treatment

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by Michele Brown

In my previous post, I described the overall condition of Cornell’s set of bound Piranesi engravings. Now, let’s look at the treatment of these volumes.

Objectives:

The usual objectives for rare book restoration are compatibility, strength, usability, reversibility and longevity. Repairs should be sympathetic with the original binding, and also strong and flexible so the volume may once again be used. Since nothing lasts forever, reversibility is important for future repairs. For example, once the original spine has been removed, lining the back with tissue and paste provides a barrier against succeeding lining materials applied with pva, and enables removing them, if necessary. Materials should be archival and of high quality. When possible, original components should be saved or reused. I thought of these objectives when considering treatment for the Piranesi volumes.

Treatment:

Rare Books and Manuscripts curators Katherine Reagan (Ernest L. Stern Curator of Rare Books & Manuscripts) and Laurent Ferri (Curator of the pre-1800 Collections) agreed that due to their size and condition, the Piranesi volumes should be fully rebacked with leather. The original spines would be saved. Missing endbands would be replaced, but weak endbands would be retained and reinforced. Original sewing would be strengthened or repaired if necessary.

Mid brown book calf from J Hewit & Sons worked well for the new spines, and needed only mild toning to blend in with the original leather. I used Fiebing’s Pro Oil Leather Dye, now called Pro Dye, to mimic the mottled calf found on the bindings. (1)

The steps for rebacking were essentially the same for all of the volumes that were treated:

  • Photography and assessment. Due to their size, Simon Ingall of DCAPS (Digital Consulting and Production Service) photographed them “before” and “after” in the DCAPS studio.

    Photographing Piranesi volume.

    Photographing Piranesi volume.

  • Removing the original spine. The original spine was lifted using a single-bevel knife. In most cases the spine was already peeling so this process was fairly easy.

    Spine of volume 4, before treatment. treatment.

    Volume 4 spine before treatment.

  • Cleaning the back with a wheat starch paste poultice.Stiff wheat starch paste (Aytex P and filtered water) was applied to the spine, allowed to sit, and then scraped off with a blunt knife.

    Spine linings being removed.

    Removing spine linings.

  • Repairing/reinforcing weak sewing. In some cases, the sewing at the beginning and/or last sections was weak or broken. If so, the section was repaired and then resewn around the original sewing support using unbleached linen thread.

    Resewn sections,

    Resewn sections in volume 4.

  • Resewing on new cords. Volumes Vols 15 and 16  had extensive structural damage, including broken cords. Consequently, both volumes were pulled and then resewn with new cords before rebacking.
  • Lining the back with Hanji 1101 using wheat starch paste. This served to protect the spine from adhesives used later in the repair process, and helped consolidate weak sewing.

    Spine lined with tissue.

    Volume 2 lined with tissue.

  • Lining the back with a strip of unbleached cotton stretch cloth, followed by by hand-made paper. Unbleached cotton was cut with slots to accommodate raised cords, and glued to the back using pva (Jade 403). After lifting the board leather, the cotton lining was extended across the joints and glued under the lifted leather using pva. This strengthened the joint and board attachment. For additional strength, panels of hand-made paper were glued between the cords

 

Unbleached cotton lining.

Back lined with unbleached cotton stretch cloth.

 

  • .Reinforcing existing, or replacing missing, endbands. If necessary, new endbands were sewn over cords (Clarkson BC cord) using silk twist.

    Endband in process.

    Replacement endband in process.

  • Lifting the sides and paste downs to accommodate a new leather spine. Using a “lifting” knife, the sides were lifted a few millimeters away from the joints.

    Lifting the leather at the joint.

    Leather being lifted at the joint.

  • Attaching the new spine. The new calfskin spine was pared and dyed and then attached using stiff wheat starch paste.
  • Putting down the lifted leather on the outside and inside of the boards. A mix of 50/50 wheat starch paste and pva (Jade 403) worked well.
  • Covering the inner joints with compatible, tinted tissue.  Color Kozo from Hiromi Paper was attached using paste.

    Front inner joint, volume 4.

    Lifted areas of the inner joints covered with Color Kozo.

  • Replacing the original spine. The edges of the original spine pieces were beveled using a Dremel tool and then attached using the 50/50 paste/pva mix.)
  • Consolidating deteriorated leather. Dry and deteriorated leather was treated with Cellugel (hydroxpropyl cellulose in isopropanol) and SC6000 leather conditioner.

    Volume 4, after

    Finished rebacking, volume 4.

The corners of most volumes were worn and damaged. These were repaired with 100% kozo Moriki (2). The leather of the original corners was lifted, the new corner material was attached using a mix of 50/50 wheat starch paste and pva, and then toned using Golden acrylics. This was usually done before starting the rebacking process.

As a result of the above repairs, the bindings were strengthened and made functional while their original components were retained. Cornell’s Piranesi is now more accessible to scholars.

A 2014 post from the Cornell in Rome’s blog provides an excellent overview of Piranesi’s work.

Notes:

(1) Traditional Fiebing’s dye is alcohol-based. Although Pro Dye is supposed to retain its color longer, it is known to fade. The Leather Conservation Centre in London has developed water-based dyes that when used with a fixative, have been shown to be more stable than other leather dyes. Unfortunately, these have been unavailable to US conservators for a while. Hewit’s also markets water-based leather dyes.  I prefer Fiebing’s dyes, but use them sparingly. Skin Deep, Volume 30 offers a good overview of leather dyes.

(2) Moriki tissue is a convenient leather substitute for corner repair. It may be difficult to find 100% kozo Moriki, but we have a supply in the Cornell conservation lab.

Suppliers:

Gane Bros. (unbleached cotton stretch cloth)

J Hewit & Sons (calfskin)

Hiromi Paper (CK Color Kozo)

Polistini Conservation Material (Hanji)

Talas (Aytex P, Jade 403, SC6000, unbleached linen thread, silk twist)

University Products (Cellugel)

 

Luce preservation training, part 2.

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by Michele Brown

The next phase of the Luce intern training program has begun. Chen Zhimei from Xiamen University and Zhang Chunmei from Fudan University recently finished four weeks of basic preservation training with our department.

Book repair

Zhimei (left) and Chunmei learning book repair.

The first grant provided training to librarians from 4 institutions in Beijing: the Chinese Agricultural Library, Renmin University, Peking University and Tsinghua University. The new grant targets the preservation needs of  libraries in other areas of mainland China and Taiwan: Fudan University, Xiamen University, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, National Taiwan University, Nanjing Agricultural University, National Chengchi University, Jilin University and Wuhan University.

The purpose of the training is to acquaint librarians in Mainland China and Taiwan with preservation techniques for their growing collections of Western-style bindings. We focus on the repair of circulating books. Other topics covered are: care and handling of library materials, exhibit support construction, simple enclosures, mold mitigation/ remediation, and disaster training.

We began by making blank books using Coptic sewing and case binding construction. Making a blank book is a good way to get acquainted with the materials and construction of many mass-produced, Western style books. We used Canapetta cloth for the spines and Iris Nevins marbled paper for the sides.

Testing grain direction.

Testing grain direction.

Link-stitch sewing.

Link-stitch sewing.

Finished books.

Finished books.

After discussing the history of Western bookbinding we visited the Rare and Manuscripts Collection where Curator Laurent Ferri showed some  unique examples of Cornell’s rare books.

Visiting the Kroch Rare and Manuscripts Collection.

Visiting the Kroch Rare and Manuscripts Collection.

Then, we moved on to repairing circulating books. The methods we use have been designed for quick, yet strong repair of books that circulate outside of the library. Depending on the damage, we categorize book repair as “partial”, “half” or “full.”  Here is a slideshow showing full book repair.

Chunmei reconstructs the cover of a damaged book.

Chunmei reconstructs the cover of a damaged book.

Zhimei has just put down the new cloth joint of this book.

Zhimei has just put down the new cloth joint of this book.

Simple enclosures can provide low-cost, effective protection for vulnerable materials so Zhimei and Chunmei learned how to make MM (marginal materials) cases, sometimes known as phase boxes, out of 20 pt. folder stock.

Making an MM case.

Making an MM case.

We learned from previous interns that libraries in China have a lot of paperback and glue bindings, so we explored stiffening and glue binding techniques.

We rehearsed disaster response and salvage and discussed how to make an effective disaster plan.

Drying wet books.

Drying wet books.

During the final week, they met with Michele Hamill and Jill Iacchei to get an overview of how to care for flat materials and photographs. We also visited the Syracuse University preservation department to see how another institution handles book repair.

We concluded  by reviewing materials and vendors for archival supplies. Zhimei and Chunmei made book models with cutaways that showed some of the techniques they learned.

Zhimei (left) and Chunmei are holding their book models.

Zhimei  and Chunmei with their book models.

Zhimei and Chunmei returned to China at the beginning of June. They have plans to set up preservation operations in their own libraries. We had a great time and hope to see them again. In September we will have interns from Shanghai Jiao Tong University and the National Taiwan University.

 

 

 

Preservation Week 2015: Ways to save your stuff.

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by Michele Brown

Last week, Tre Berney provided an excellent summary of AV preservation and related issues. What about books, papers, photographs and other memorabilia you’d like to save and pass along? Here are some resources to help you preserve  your collections.

First, the Cornell Library Conservation website offers many resources to individuals and libraries.

Our  recently revised Preservation and Conservation tutorial for China, which was developed as part of the Luce grant, provides a broad survey of techniques for the preservation of all types of library materials.

One useful tool for protecting fragile books is the marginal materials (MM) case. The tutorial includes a slideshow that describes how to make this simple, but effective container. Written instructions for this and other techniques are included in our repair guides.

Providing a good environment for your materials is the first step in preserving them. The Image Permanence Institute offers numerous resources on ways to understand and control the environment in your home or institution. Watch the video on the effect of humidity fluctuation on a rare book!

Would you like to download leaflets that advise you on the care of your collection and give recommendations for disaster recovery? The Northeast Document Conservation Center (NEDCC) has a series of  preservation leaflets that cover a wide range of topics.

Finally, the Association for Library Collections and Technical Services (ALCTS) offers a series of  preservation webinars.

These are just a few of the many resources available to help us save our stuff so we can pass it on. Happy Preservation Week 2015!

 

 

Welcome Chen Hong and Zhang Huili

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By Michele Brown

Chen Hong, Director of Circulation at  Tsinghua Library and Zhang Huili of the Special Collections Department at Peking University are the fourth pair of librarians from China to participate in the care of circulating collections training program funded by the Luce Foundation.  Hong and Huili  arrived in Ithaca September 16 and began working with us September 23. This week-end they will return to Beijing.

 

 

They began by learning how to determine the grain direction of paper.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Then, they sewed and bound their own blank books.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

They learned how to do full and partial repairs, fan glue bindings and constructing phase boxes.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We discussed disaster preparation and salvaged some wet books and documents.

 

 

 

 

They visited the Mann Library Preservation Department and Special Collections vault, and spoke to Frank Brown about the Mann Library preservation program.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Finally, they learned how to construct exhibit supports.

 

 

 

Many thanks to our translators and all of the people who helped make the program a success.

 

 

Welcome Pan Wei and Zhang Hongping

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by Michele Brown

Our internship program for librarians from China continues as we welcome two librarians from the China Agricultural University Library in Beijing.  Pan Wei, Deputy Director and Zhang Hongping, Associate Research librarian, arrived in Ithaca May 11 and started working  in the Conservation Lab May 20. They began by making pamphlets.

Lily (one of our translators) watches Pan Wei (center) and Hongping (right) sew pamphlets.

 

Then, they learned how to make case bindings before learning how to repair books from the circulating collection.

PanWei

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hongping

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On Monday, we visited the book repair department at Syracuse University.

Pan Wei and Hongping observe a student in the Syracuse book repair lab.

 

We have enjoyed working with our 2 translators: Lily and Jiali.

Jiali Wang is a second year student at the Cornell Institute for Public Affairs, with a concentration in economics.

Lily Xue Dong is a Chinese LL.M student in Cornell Law School Class 2013.

A little help from our friends…

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by Michele Brown

Kelly and Lucy have completed their internship in conservation and will spend another week visiting Cornell libraries and Ithaca sights.

The internship program provides both hands-on experience and lectures in preservation theory and techniques. These can be complicated concepts to convey and we have relied on native Chinese speakers in the Cornell community to help us communicate. Four students and a library collection assistant have served as translators for our visiting interns.

Yun Peng (Penny) will receive her M. Eng. in Electrical Engineering from Cornell in May. Before coming to Cornell, she received her B.S. in Electrical Engineering from Purdue University.

After graduation she will be employed as a Researcher in the Electric Power Research Institute in Beijing. Penny was at first attracted to being a translator for our intern program because she saw it as an opportunity to meet professionals from some of the top universities in China. While translating for the first 2 interns she also discovered that book conservation is very interesting. For her, translating is a good way to use her knowledge of English. “Helping the interns to communicate gives me a sense of achievement.”

Xuejiao Yang (Snow) was born in Beijing and grew up in Malaysia.

She received a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from the University of Washington in Seattle, and in May she will receive an M. Eng. in Electrical Engineering from Cornell. In September she will begin a position for the International Engineering Company in Beijing. She has enjoyed translating because she enjoys learning about another subject outside of her area of expertise. Translation skills will also help in her future work which will involve negotiating with companies outside of China. Snow is also fluent in Malay, plays the violin and piano, and enjoys ballet.

Venna Wang is a sophomore biological sciences major with a concentration in microbiology in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS).

She grew up in Queens, and she enjoys music and art She “plays the flag” in the Cornell marching band.  Venna enjoys translating because “it’s fun”, and she’s been happy to learn more about books, which she discovered are structurally a lot more complicated than she had realized.

 

Tianwang Liu is a freshman economics major in College of Arts and Sciences.

She is from Shandoung Province in China and enjoys singing, playing the piano, and playing the Guzheng. She watches movies to relax during study breaks. When we asked her what she enjoys most about translating she said, “As a student, working for the preservation department opens a new world for me, because instead of only reading books, I can know how books are made and repaired. It is amazing!”

Jing Carlson works as a collection assistant at the East Asian Collection (Wason) of the Kroch Library.

In the Cornell library system her main responsibilities include doing collection administrative management, assisting the curator to develop the collection, and coordinating with other units.

Jing is also an active participant in Cornell’s East Asia Program’s outreach activities.  As an educator for the East Asia Program she has taught members of the Ithaca community about calligraphy, Chinese art, cooking, and language.  Jing has also worked as a translator on campus and for the Ithaca City School District as well as the Racker Center.  Her current translating work builds on the experience she had while still living in China doing Chinese- Japanese translation.

Jing moved to the United States from Beijing in the 1990s. She loves art, cooking, hiking and has an interest in residential architecture and fengshui design. She has been living in Ithaca since 2000.  She enjoys family life here with her two sons and husband.

Jing has found time during her working hours to fill in when Penny, Snow, Venna and Tianwang have had scheduling conflicts.

We will miss Penny and Snow, but we look forward to working with Venna and Tianwang in the fall. We will rely on Jing as a resource for the next 2 interns from China who will arrive on May 13.

 

Interns from China, Part two: care and handling, disaster planning and exhibit preparation.

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The second two weeks of Deng Liang and Zhang Lijin’s time in the conservation department included an introduction to principles of proper storage and environment, care and handling of library materials, disaster planning, mold prevention and remediation, and exhibit preparation.

 

They practiced making exhibit supports.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And, they recovered wet materials from a “flood.”

 

 

After visiting the preservation department in Mann Library, touring other Cornell departments and  some sightseeing in New York City, Deng Liang and Zhang Lijin returned to China last week. We wish them well in their future preservation endeavors and look forward to 2 interns from Renmin University in March.

Michele Brown

Interns from China, Part One: bookbinding and book repair

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By Michele Brown

The first 2 participants in our preservation training program for librarians from China, funded by the Henry Luce Foundation, arrived at the beginning of November.

 

 

Zhang Lijing is a librarian in the special collections department in the Peking University Library.

 

 

 

Deng Liang is a librarian in the History of Science Collection at Tsinghua University Library.

 

The first two weeks of their program has focused on the history of western bookbinding, binding case-bound books, and repair of circulating collections.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

You can see more photos on our Facebook page.

Stay turned for Part 2: care and handling, exhibit preparation and disaster planning.

China intern program

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We are excited to welcome the first 2 interns in our China intern program on November 1.

“Knowledge creation is global. With fewer barriers to cross-border research, the well-being of collections in other countries is directly linked to the research we do at Cornell and around the world, and it benefits from their accessibility,” said Xin Li, Associate University Librarian for Central Library Operations. “Helping Chinese librarians preserve these materials ensures they’ll be around for the long run, which is part of the global mission of a land-grant university.”

Read the complete press release and visit the Grant-funded projects page  for more information about this program. Look for updates about our participants and what they will be learning while they are here at Cornell.