Selected Reading

The literature on the conservation of books and other library materials is large and constantly growing, reflecting the current lively interest in the subject. Published material directly relevant to the subject matter of this book is relatively scarce and scattered, however. There are a great number of books, for example, on the basic techniques of bookbinding, some very good, some certainly not so good, but—good, bad, or indifferent—very few deal specifically with the problems peculiar to the restoration of leather bindings. The literature on the history of bookbindings is even more extensive; much of it deals more with the changing styles of decoration and with the identification of binders and their work than with historical developments in the basic structures of the book and the lessons which can be learnt from them in terms of durability. However, very important work has been done in this field during the last two decades, or so, and some of the results have been published in books and periodicals, some of which are listed below. There has also been a marked increase in published material about alternatives to restoration, and this trend, too, is reflected in the following reading list.

1. Banks, Paul N.

A Selective Bibliography on the Conservation of Research Library Materials

Chicago, Newberry Library, 1981

The many hundreds of entries covering every aspect of conservation are very well organised by subject with many subheadings. There is a good author index.

2. Baynes-Cope, A.D.

Caring for Books and Documents

London, The British Library, 2nd ed. 1989

This booklet outlines the ideal conditions under which books and documents should be kept, explains the

principal causes of damage and offers straightforward, practical advice on how to avoid them.

3. Belaya, I.K.

“Methods of Strengthening the Damaged Leather of Old Bindings”

Restaurator, vol. 1, no. 2 (1969), 93–104

Discusses methods of strengthening and preserving the damaged leather bindings of old books in the State V.I. Lenin Library of the USSR. Restaurator, which began publication in Copenhagen in 1969 ‘as “the first international periodical covering the field of restoration and preventive care of library and archival material,” covers a wide range of conservation activities and has been a valuable addition to the field.

4. Brockman, James

“Rebacking—an alternative approach”

The New Bookbinder, vol.11 (1991), 36–46

5. Buck, Mitchell S.

Book Repair and Restoration: A Manual of Practical Suggestions for Bibliophiles

Philadelphia, Nicholas L. Brown, 1918

The book has some interesting discussions, most of which are of only historical interest, on the techniques of general restoration, removing stains, rebacking, repairing old bindings, and rebinding. Many of the recommendations made by the author must now be viewed with considerable reservation. Included are some translated selections from Essai sur l’art de Restaurer les Estampes et les Livres, by A. Bonnardot, Paris, 1858.

6. Burdett, Eric

The Craft of Bookbinding: A Practical Handbook

Newton Abbot, David & Charles, 1975

One of the best and the most comprehensive of the more recent manuals and packed with information and “wrinkles.”

7. Cains, Anthony

“New Attitudes to Conservation”

In New Directions in Bookbinding, by Philip Smith

London, Studio Vista, 1974

This spells out the basic, honest approach to conservation with a brief evaluation of methods and materials, and deals principally with the operations preceding binding.

8. Cains, Anthony

“Techniques of Preservation Based on Early Binding Methods and Materials”

The Paper Conservator, vol. 1 (1976), 2–8

The author outlines the soundest methods and most durable materials for conservation binding.

9. Cains, Anthony

“Book Conservation Workshop Manual; Part One: Preparation of the Book for Conservation and Repair”

The New Bookbinder, vol. 1 (1981), 11–25

This is the first part of a manual based on the methods the author helped to develop when he was in charge of conservation at the Biblioteca Nazionale Centrale di Firenze and has since amended while serving as Technical Director of the Conservation Workshop at Trinity College, Dublin.

10. Cains, Anthony

“A Facing Method for Leather, Paper and Membrane”

Conference Papers; Manchester 1992, (1992), 153–157

The Institute of Paper Conservation

This describes the author’s method of temporarily reinforcing deteriorated leather spines (if necessary after they have been consolidated with Klucel G in IMS) with a resin-coated paper tissue, so that they can be lifted with minimal damage. This is a significant advance on the earlier, less sophisticated, and sometimes damaging process of pasting tissue on to powdery leather.

11. Clarkson, Christopher

“The Conservation of Early Books in Codex Form”

The Paper Conservator, vol. 3 (1978), 33–50

An important, scholarly consideration of the principles and ethics of conservation.

12. Clarkson, Christopher

“Board-Slotting—a New Technique for Re-attaching Bookboards”

Conference Papers; Manchester 1992, (1992), 158–164

The Institute of Paper Conservation

13. Clarkson, Christopher

“Thoughts on Sewing Frame Design for the Book Conservator”

The Paper Conservator, vol. 19 (1995), 41–54

A study of the importance of sound sewing and of the control of swell as sewing proceeds so that hammered rounding and backing is rendered unnecessary.

14. Clements, Jeff

Bookbinding

London, Arco Publications, 1963

An excellent book on the fundamentals of hand bookbinding, clearly and simply written, and well illustrated. Includes a useful chapter on the history of bookbinding.

15. Clydesdale, Amanda

Chemicals in Conservation: A Guide to Possible Hazards and Safe Use

Edinburgh, Conservation Bureau, Scottish Development Agency, Scottish Society for Conservation and Restoration, 1982, 2nd ed. 1990

Hundreds of chemicals are listed with their associated hazards, if any. First aid measures are detailed where the dangers are significant.

16. Cockerell, Douglas

Bookbinding and the Care of Books (with an Appendix by Sydney M. Cockerell)

London, Pitman, 5th ed., 1953 (rev.1978)

This is the classic work on hand bookbinding. Part 2 discusses the injurious influences to which books are subject, proper shelving, insect pests, how to preserve old bindings, the paring of leather, headbanding, and the rebacking of books. The chapter on leather quotes generously from the Report of the Committee on Leather Bookbindings published for the Royal Society of Arts (see below). The Appendix covers many important points not dealt with in the original text of 1901.

17. Cockerell, Douglas

Some Notes on Bookbinding

London, Oxford University Press, 1929

Discusses the deterioration of the quality of materials used in bindings and gives interesting historical and sociological reasons for its occurrence.

18. Cockerell, Sydney M.

The Repairing of Books

London, Sheppard Press, 1958

Librarians and collectors will find this an interesting summary of some of the possible ways in which books can be repaired. To quote the author: “It contains some ‘first aid’ operations that can be carried out by careful labour, but it is not a technical work on binding procedure, nor is it intended to give the impression that anyone can repair a valuable book without practical instruction and experience; and it is hoped that this experience will not be obtained at the expense of fine books.” Readers will find the chapter entitled “Repairing Leather Bindings and Re-Binding” especially helpful.

19. Cunha, George Martin and Cunha, Dorothy Grant

Conservation of Library Materials: A Manual and Bibliography on the Care, Repair and Restoration of Library Materials

Metuchen, N.J., Scarecrow Press, 2nd ed., 1971–72, 2 vols.

The authors discuss the nature, general care, repair, and restoration of library materials, and provide an extensive bibliography.

20. Cunha, George Martin and Cunha, Dorothy Grant, assisted by Suzanne Elizabeth Henderson

Library and Archives Conservation: 1980s and Beyond

Metuchen, N.J., Scarecrow Press, 1983, 2 vols.

This book is designed to be useful in conjunction with the preceding item and provides a survey of developments during the past fifteen years in addition to general guidance in techniques and discussion on training and education. The bibliography, which contains more than 5,800 new citations, supplements the one in the authors’ earlier book, and together they constitute the most comprehensive bibliography covering conservation literature in English.

21. Diehl, Edith

Bookbinding: Its Background and Technique

New York, Rinehart and Co., 1946, 2 vols. Reprinted by Hacker Art Books, New York, 1979

The first volume of this work is on the history of the production, binding, and distribution of books; the second volume is on bookbinding, methods and materials. Although the work is questionable in part, it contains useful information.

22. Dühmert, Anneliese

Buchpflege; ein bibliographie

Stuttgart, Max Hettler, 1963

A comprehensive, multilingual bibliography of the literature on the treatment and repair of books.

23. Foot, Mirjam

“The Binding Historian and the Book Conservator”

The Paper Conservator, vol. 8 (1984), 77–83

24. Forde, Helen

Domesday Preserved

London, Her Majesty’s Stationery Office, 1986

An excellent, detailed, and well illustrated account of, perhaps, the most important bookbinding project of this century: the rebinding of the 11th century Domesday Book at the Public Record Office, in London.

25. Gardner, Anthony

“The Ethics of Book Repair”

The Library, vol. 9, no.3 (1954), 194–98

In this article the author discusses such matters as the difference between attempting to achieve an aesthetically satisfactory restoration and “conscious faking,” and whether the ultimate structural soundness of the restored book should be sacrificed in the interest of preserving the original binding materials and techniques.

26. Gast, Monika

“A History of Endbands”

The New Bookbinder, vol. 3 (1983), 42–58

Based on a study by Karl Jäckel, this is a broadly-based article with many photographs and very clear drawings.

27. Greenfield, Jane

ABC of Bookbinding

New Castle, DE, Oak Knoll Press, 1998

A collector’s glossary with over 700 line illustrations. A unique look into the parts of the physical book over the ages.

28. Greenfield, Jane

The Care of Fine Books

New York, Nick Lyons Books, 1988

Covers the subject comprehensively and soundly, but without going into great detail. Illustrated with numerous sketches by the author.

29. Greenfield, Jane & Hille, Jenny

Headbands: How to Work Them

New Castle, DE, Oak Knoll Press, 2^nd, revised ed., 1990

The sole book on the subject, and invaluable for those working on antiquarian books of various nationalities. Clearly illustrated throughout with drawings by Jane Greenfield.

30. Hadgraft, Nicholas & Swift, Katherine

Conservation and Preservation in Small Libraries

The Parker Library Conservation Project, Corpus Christi College, Cambridge, Parker Library Publications, 1994

Essential reading for all who wish to be informed about the most recent advances in conservation practices and repair techniques, and perhaps even more essential for those who do not.

31. Hickin, Norman

Bookworms; the Insect Pests of Books

London, Sheppard Press, 1985; Richard Joseph, Revised Ed., 1992

Information on this subject is not readily available to the lay person, so this book should be a welcome addition to the reference libraries of custodians, conservators and restorers. Clear drawings and photographs facilitate identification. A chapter is devoted to the control and elimination of insect pests in books, and there is a useful bibliography.

32. Horton, Carolyn

Cleaning and Preserving Bindings and Related Materials

Conservation of Library Materials, Pamphlet 1, Chicago, Library Technology Program, American Library Association, 2nd rev. ed., 1969

The author discusses the cleaning and minor repair of books and other library materials, and the care and preservation of leather bindings. The work contains a list of supplies and equipment, sources of supply, and a selected bibliography.

33. Innes, R. F.

“The Preservation of Vegetable-tanned Leather against Deterioration”

Chapter 18 in Progress in Leather Science, London, British Leather Manufacturers’ Research Association, 1948

A pioneering work in the explanation of the causes of the decay of leather and its prevention. The author discusses preferred tannages—considering pyrogallol-tanned better than catechol-tanned hides—and confirms that salts added to leather increase its durability. He also concludes that potassium citrate or lactate as well as neutralized syntans protect the leather, and that alum retannage and an impermeable finish improve durability.

34. Johnson, Arthur W.

The Thames and Hudson Manual of Bookbinding

London, Thames and Hudson, 1978

A very sound manual written by a teacher and binder of long experience. Well illustrated by the author.

35. Johnson, Arthur W.

The Practical Guide to Book Repair and Conservation

London, Thames and Hudson, 1988

A useful, wide-ranging, and generally reliable guide with numerous excellent drawings by the author.

36. Kuhn, Hilde

Wörterbuch der Handbuchbinderei und Einbandrestaurierung

Hannover, Schlütersche. 2nd ed., 1979

1,033 terms in German, English, French, and Italian. These cover “bookbinding and restoration of papyri, manuscripts, engravings, autographs, documents, bindings, and globes.”

37. Langwell, W. H.

The Conservation of Books and Documents

London, Pitman, 1957; Westport, Conn., Greenwood Press, 1974

Advances have been rapid, so the text of this book, written by a pioneer, is somewhat dated. However, it contains much useful information on sewing materials, adhesives, and other bookbinding materials, as well as on binding techniques.

38. Lehmann-Haupt, Hellmut

“On the Rebinding of Old Books”

In Bookbinding in America: Three Essays, (H. Lehmann-Haupt, ed.) New York, R. R. Bowker Co., rev. ed., 1967

A sound, thoughtful, and very useful discussion of the ethics and esthetics of the repairing or rebinding of books of value.

39. Maggs Bros Ltd. Booksellers, London

Bookbinding in Great Britain; Sixteenth to the Twentieth Century

Catalogue No. 966, 1975

Bookbinding in the British Isles; Sixteenth to the Twentieth Century

Catalogue No. 1075, 1987. Parts I and II

Ditto, Catalogue No. 1212, 1996. Parts I and II

Lavishly illustrated catalogues with extensive, reliable notes about the bindings and binders by Bryan D. Maggs. Very useful to restorers as guides to period styles.

40. McCann, Michael

Artist Beware

New York, Watson-Guptill Publications, 1979

In addition to specifying the hazards associated with hundreds of chemicals, the author has provided wide-ranging chapters covering every aspect of safety in the workshop, including ventilation, storage of chemicals, personal protective equipment, first aid.

41. Mejer, Wolfgang

Bibliographie der Buchbinderei-literature

Leipzig, Karl W. Hiersemann, 1925

Thought much dated, and far from complete at the time it was published, this bibliography, together with its supplement, Bibliographie der Buchbinderei-literature, 1924–1932, by Herman Herbst, contains many valuable references to books and articles in several languages on the history and techniques of bookbinding, the care of books, and bookbinding materials.

42. Middleton, Bernard C.

A History of English Craft Bookbinding Technique

London and New York, Hafner Publishing Co., 1963; Holland Press, 2nd ed. (Supplemented), 1978; 3rd ed. (new Introduction), 1988; New Castle, Delaware, Oak Knoll Press, and London, British Library, 4th ed. (with revised Supplement), 1996.

In this classic, Mr. Middleton discusses in great detail the history of the techniques of bookbinding; tracing the various methods that have been used for sewing books, attaching boards, headbanding, forming endpapers, and so forth. An indispensable companion to the present volume for anyone interested in restoration work.

43. Nixon, Howard

Five Centuries of English Bookbinding

London, Scolar Press, 1978

One hundred reproductions of bindings covering the period c. 1483 to c. l928, with a short article accompanying each. Very useful as a guide to period styles. The extensive bibliography, which embraces both books and articles on the history of English bookbinding, is divided into subjects and periods.

44. Nixon, Howard M., and Foot, Mirjam M.

The History of Decorated Bookbinding in England

Oxford, Clarendon Press, 1992

An authoritative, well illustrated ‘popular’ history.

45. Petherbridge, Guy and Harrington, Malcolm J. (eds.)

“Safety and Health in the Paper Conservation Laboratory”

The Paper Conservator, vols. 5 & 6 (1980–81)

This provides exhaustive coverage of the subject in the combined volumes, which amounts to 184 pages.

46. Plenderleith, H. J. and Werner, A. E. A.

The Conservation of Antiquities and Works of Art: Treatment, Repair, and Restoration

London, Oxford University Press, 2nd ed., 1971

This is the second edition of a basic reference work which has been widely used by conservators in the museum as well as the library field. There are useful chapters on the tanning, causes of decay, and treatment of animal skins, as well as on papyrus parchment and paper, but, of course, recent developments are not embraced.

47. Pollard, Graham

“Changes in the Style of Bookbinding, 1550–1830”

The Library, vol. 2, no. 2 (1956), 71–94

This important paper deals with the introduction of many techniques and materials and should be helpful to those who wish to restore bindings in a manner appropriate to their period.

48. Pollard, Graham

“Some Anglo-Saxon Bookbindings”

The Book Collector, Spring, 1975, 130–59

This is a pioneering paper on the techniques of Anglo-Saxon bindings.

49. Pollard, Graham

“On the Repair of Mediaeval Bindings”

The Paper Conservator, vol. 1(1976), 35–36

The guidance provided here is intended for librarians who have early books in their care, but it is also useful for conservators and others concerned with books of later periods. The paper discusses what should and should not be done, the importance of photographing books before and during repair, the recording of work carried out, and so on.

50. Powell, Roger

“Case History of repair and rebinding of an eighth-century vellum manuscript”

Chapter 22 in New Directions in Bookbinding, by Philip Smith London, Studio Vista; New York, Van Nostrand Reinhold Company, 1974

The binder’s account of how he approached the rebinding of the Lichfield Gospels of St. Chad, a national treasure, and the manner in which he recorded the volume’s makeup. The techniques and qualities of materials are specified in detail. Essential reading for everyone concerned with early, vellum-leaved books.

51. Reed, R.

Ancient Skins, Parchments and Leathers

London and New York, Seminar Press, 1972

A very detailed and scientifically based account of early methods of manufacturing parchment and leather.

52. Robert, Matt T. and Etherington, Don

Bookbinding and the Conservation of Books: A Dictionary of Descriptive Terminology

Washing D.C., Library of Congress, 1982

An extensive compilation which contains much historical and technical information about materials, in addition to binding and conservation techniques, definitions of scientific terms and biographies of well-known binders.

53. Rogers, J. S. and Beebe, C. W.

Leather Bookbindings: How to Preserve Them

Leaflet no. 398. United States Department of Agriculture, Washington, D.C., May 1956

The standard United States government bulletin about the preservation of leather bindings. Eight formulas for leather dressings are given.

54. Royal Society of Arts, London

Report of the Committee on Leather for Bookbinding

Edited for the Royal Society of Arts and the Company of Leathersellers by the Rt. Hon. Viscount Cobham and Sir Henry Trueman Wood. London, published for the Society of Arts by George Bell & Sons, 1905

Amplification of the 1901 report which is quoted in Cockerell’s Bookbinding and the Care of Books. Although this report is now badly dated, it was highly influential in its time, and still makes interesting and useful reading.

55. Sharpe, John L. (Ed.)

Roger Powell The Compleat Binder

Turnhout, BREPOULS, 1996

This festschrift has little to do with restoration or minimal intervention techniques, but it is included here because Powell was a major influence in the craft during a crucial period, and because the pieces about him and many other topics, are of great interest and may shape readers’ opinions.

56. Simpson, Edward

“Setting up a Board-Slotting Programme”

The Paper Conservator, vol. 18 (1994), 77–89

57. Schmidt-Kunsemüller, Friedrich-Adolf

Bibliographie zur Geschichte der Einbandkunst von den Anfdngen bis 1985

Wiesbaden, Dr. Ludwig Reichert, 1987

This is a very extensive bibliography of international bookbinding literature.

58. Smith, Philip

New Directions in Bookbinding

London, Studio Vista; New York, Van Nostrand Reinhold Company, 1974

An important book by a highly creative binder. Although much concerned with the philosophy of design in fine binding and recent developments in design and technique, the book has, in addition to the Cains and Powell chapters listed above, much information about materials, chemicals, and techniques that is useful to the conservator and to the less creative binder.

59. Storm, Colton

“Care, Maintenance and Restoration”

In Rare Book Collections (H. Richard Archer, ed.), Chicago, ACRL Monograph no. 27, American Library Association, 1965

A statement of principles of the conservation of rare materials.

60. Tribolet, Harold W.

“Trends in Preservation”

Library Trends, vol. 13, no. 2 (1964), 208–14

Mr. Tribolet, former manager of the Graphic Conservation Department of R. R. Donnelley & Sons Co. in Chicago, discusses developments in the treatment of rare books and manuscripts.

61. The USSR State Library IM. V.I. Lenin

Department for Book Preservation and Restoration

Collection of Materials on the Preservation of Library Resources

Jerusalem, Israel Program for Scientific Translations, 1964 No. 2, L. Petrova, ed.; No. 3, L. Belyakova and O. V. Kozulina, eds.

This work included chapters on inspecting books, collections, dusting and cleaning books, and softening leather bindings.

62. Waterer, John W.

A Guide to the Conservation and Restoration of Objects Made Wholly or in  Part of Leather

London, G. Bell & Sons, 2nd ed., 1973

Although this book does not deal with the structural restoration of bindings and only briefly with the application of potassium lactate and leather dressings, it will be found useful for its information about the nature and properties of various kinds of leather. Also valuable are the appendices which include details of some of the products used in conservation and the addresses of the suppliers.

63. Yusupova, M. V.

“Conservation and Softening of Leather in Book Bindings”

Restaurator; vol. 3. no. 3 (1979), 91–100

To quote the summary: “The author gives short information on structure, tanning and greasing of leather, analyses the causes of leather ageing in book bindings, as well as features of materials used for their conservation. The author proposes new preservation lubricants made on the basis of mineral substances; shows its advantage in comparison with earlier known materials. He gives the methods of softening old dry leather using water, inert abrasive, and hard oxidized oils.”

VIDEOS

Bernard C. Middleton

“Rebacking an Antiquarian Book”

with

Jan Ascoli

“A Binder’s Exhibition”

“A Visit to Cockerell Marbled Papers”

Binder Vision No. 2

Bernard C. Middleton

“Ageing New Work”

with

Angela James

“Sewing on Tape and Cords”

Maurice Parkinson

“The ‘Master Pulp’ Leaf Casting Machine”

“Conservation for Romania”

Binder Vision No. 3

Binder Vision

Greatness Lane

Sevenoaks, Kent TN14 5BQ

England.