Conservation Treatment of a Hand-Coloured Map of Upper Canada, 1855

Canada West or Upper Canada, 1855. Before treatment.

One of our favourite types of items to work on at Book and Paper Conservation Services is rare and antique maps. They are always fascinating from a historical perspective, and they tend to respond very well to conservation treatment. Typical problems for 18th and 19th century maps include staining and foxing; creases, tears and breaks to fragile paper; and overall darkening and discolouration. The colouring can be faded but treatments that brighten the overall paper tone will make the hand coloured areas stand out more vibrantly after conservation. 

Adhesive on the map had discoloured to a dark brown, and attempts at removal had caused it to tear.

This beautiful hand-coloured map, titled Map of Upper Canada or Canada West, and dated 1855, came to BPCS adhered to the inside cover of a volume to which it didn't belong. While the map was originally issued as a fold-out plate in a book, at some point it had been removed from its home and adhered very roughly into the front of another volume. The adhesive the new owner used had darkened dramatically over time, and a rough attempt at removal had caused the paper to tear. 

Washing the map to reduce overall discolouration and staining.

First, the map was tested to determine if the hand colouring was able to withstand aqueous treatment. Then, conservation treatment involved carefully removing the map from the book cover, washing the map overall, and performing local chemical bleach treatment on both the large adhesive stain and the other various spots over the sheet. Finally, the tears were repaired and the map flattened. 

Chemical bleaching through suction to reduce staining.

As the map's original book was no longer present, it will be matted and mounted for display as an individual piece. The treatment was very successful, brightening the paper tone overall and reducing the dramatic brown stains that had disfigured the page. It can now be properly appreciated the way it was intended to appear. 

Canada West or Upper Canada, 1855. After treatment.

Repair of an 18th century Half-Leather Bound Book

Love in a Village, 1787, a half-leather bound volume with both boards off.

This lovely little volume, Love in a Village: A Comic Opera, published in 1787, came in with both the front and back covers detached. This is a very common type of damage on old and rare books; use and handling can weaken the leather at the joints over time, and eventually they give way entirely.

Both the front and back covers were detached on the volume.

In addition the endcaps at both head and tail of the book were missing. The repair entailed reattaching the boards and reconstructing the endcaps, using primarily toned Japanese paper.

Preparing to lift the leather for reattachment.

Japanese paper is a handmade mulberry paper frequently used by conservators for strong yet flexible repairs. The long fibres of the plant material used to make the paper provide great strength, making it perfect for a repair such as reattaching a light board joint. The cover is small and light enough that the paper alone is strong enough to attach the board and withstand gentle use. The thin paper can slide underneath the original leather without causing any extra bulk.

Japanese paper is a strong yet flexible material for performing repairs.

Toned Japanese paper is used to reconstruct the endcap of the book.

After treatment, the boards are back in place, the inside joints also covered with Japanese paper, and the covers can be opened and closed gently - the book is usable again. It is always satisfying to return an attractive rare volume to a usable condition. 

The repaired joint of the front cover.

The joint is repaired from the inside as well. The front free end paper features some very elegant notations by a previous owner.

Conservation Treatment of a Japanese-style Bookbinding

Son Altesse La Femme, Paris, 1885 Japanese style book with covering case. The joints of the case are split and the ribbons frayed.

Rare and valuable books often come through our studio needing just a little bit of TLC. Excessive handling can cause the joints of covers to break down, cloth of bindings to fray, or preliminary pages to come loose. The more the book is used, the worse the damage will become, so it is wise to have it conserved sooner rather than later; repairs can stabilize a book so that it can receive gentle handling without risking more damage. 

The case, separate from the text block, has broken along the joints.

This interesting item, Son Altesse La Femme, published in Paris in 1885, is scarce with its hardcover covering case; it is usually found in its paper wraps alone. The Japanese style case of this particular book had suffered the usual damage of broken joints and wear to spine and headcaps. The cover was in two pieces and the ribbons fraying.

Japanese paper repairs in progress.

Repairing the spine label ribbon.

Repairs to the joints were completed using toned Japanese paper and wheat starch paste, a stable, reversible adhesive favoured by most conservators. Further, some touch-ups were applied to the abrasions on the case.

After Treatment - the joint of the case is repaired.

The book in its case now is restored to a stable and aesthetically pleasing condition. It is strong enough to be handled, and the damage no longer detracts from the overall item. The book has been returned to its owner with many more years of life in it.

After Treatment - the inside of the case is intact once more.