paper and parchment

We offer a comprehensive conservation service including a wide range of preventive and interventive treatments on paper, parchment, bound volumes, photographs, maps, plans, prints and other archival material.

Our conservation treatments aim to restore appearance and stability. They include flattening, cleaning, washing, treatment for mould, tear repairs, de-acidifying, tape and adhesive removal, infilling losses and water stain removal.

CASE STUDY 1

conservation of a Hebrew Bible

This volume came to us in very poor condition having suffered from insect infestation, The paper was water stained and had become very weak and soft. The paper was acidic and parts of the leaves had been eaten away and the sewing was broken. The original leather spine had all but disappeared.

The volume was taken apart and the leaves washed in an alkaline solution to neutralise the acid in the paper as well reduce the water staining. The leaves were strengthened with an archival tissue and wheat starch paste. Once the volume had been re-sewn a new leather spine was applied using the original boards.

CASE STUDY 2

conservation of Cecil Papers

We recently completed a 10 year project on a collection of historically significant letters for Hatfield House in Hertfordshire. The project consisted of removing the letters from the guard books into which they had been fixed during the early 20th century and then de-acidifying and conserving them as necessary. New half leather bound books were then made up and the letters hinged into them with archival tissue and wheat starch paste - a process referred to as fasciculing.

CASE STUDY 3

conserving and re-housing a collection of letters

All 246 letters within this book were adhered onto paper guards. At some point in the past they had been glued on the reverse and adhered onto backing sheets. There was considerable damage to the edges of the letters as well as along the folds and where the seals had been lifted.