Last month, the Conservation Department welcomed Don Rash for a leather conservation workshop. Rash is an esteemed fine binder and book artist who works out of Wyoming, PA.
Many of the library's collections contain leather-bound volumes in various states of disrepair. Some common examples are loose or detached covers and spines and red rot. Over the course of two days, Don shared with us a variety of treatment options for leather-bound books, conservation techniques, information about materials, and the history of many leather bindings. Here are a handful of photos from the workshop - only a portion of topics covered in the workshop!
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Detatched covers and partial spine - a great candidate for rebacking!
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Don lifts the leather on the detached board. A new paper spine will be slipped under the leather on the covers.
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Don watches as Preservation Technician Watsuki Harrington practices paring leather.
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The detached cover of a book has been treated with a solution called Klucel-G that is applied to consolidate red rot leather.
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A wheat paste poultice is applied to remove the leather of a tightback spine.
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The wheat paste softens the leather and the spine can be scraped clean.
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New cords are pasted to the spine and sewn in place.
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The new cords are fanned and pasted onto the boards (under lifted leather).
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A paper spine is adhered and is being tied down until dry.
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A matching Japanese paper is wrapped around the spine.
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