Category: Conservation projects

Conservation of a Sikh Guru Granth Sahib Ji

In July 2023 we were visited by a family looking to conserve their copy of a Guru Granth Sahib Ji which had been in their family since 1984. The Guru Granth Sahib contains the central teachings of Sikhism as laid out by the ten Gurus. This text is revered as the eleventh Guru and is

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An early 19th century stationery binding

Stationery binding quires: Do they differ from printed sections?

The following is an amended excerpt from an unpublished Paper No hum-drum memorandum: Conservation of the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust’s first Visitor’s Book, that Arthur gave for the 2019 Archives & Records Association (ARA) Conference in Leeds. The presentation described the conservation of an early 19th century stationery binding, looking at the various aspects of documentation,

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“Getting Organised” – Starting my new job at Green’s Books

Having recently completed a Master’s degree in Book Conservation at West Dean College, I was incredibly pleased to be offered work at Green’s Books straight away. Originally from Austria, I studied History and Philosophy at University College, Dublin before moving to the UK. During my training, I undertook placements at The National Archives, the Staatsbibliothek

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Parchment ‘leaf spring’ spine repair

Lord Chesterfield’s Letters (Dublin, 1776) is a fairly typical 18th century in-board binding, sewn on five raised cord supports, and fully-covered in smooth, sprinkled, brown calf over boards. As is common of books of this period from the British Isles it has thin degraded leather, brittle animal glue on the backs of the sections, and no

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The conservation of Holinshed’s Chronicles

  Holinshed’s Chronicles is a 16th Century history of England, Scotland and Ireland; probably best known for its links to William Shakespeare’s history plays, for which it is said to have been a significant resource. It is a large folio of over 1500 pages and this copy was bound between wooden boards covered in calf leather.

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