Antonanium Library Rome: Restoration Rare Books GR. 0358

Restoration without disassembly of sow leather binding

Stefania Zeppieri | Conservazione e Restauro Beni Librari, Archivistici, Opere d'Arte su carta e manufatti Affini | Biblioteca Antonianum di Roma: Restauro volumi rari GR0403 - Stefania Zeppieri | Conservazione e Restauro Beni Librari, Archivistici, Opere d'Arte su carta e manufatti Affini | Biblioteca Antonianum di Roma: Restauro volumi rari

Notes about the restoration project

The focus of this restoration was a printed book which is part of the collection of the Library of the Pontifical Antonianum Institute of Rome (Rari GR 0358). Sleidani De Statu Religionis Et Reipublicae, Carolo quinto, Caesare Commentarij, 1555.

A beautiful sow leather binding with wooden boards, decorated with minute impressions. The volume showed severe damage from leaching, gore on all papers, presence of mold on the guard papers, and woodworm walkways. The blanket also showed damage from washout, the presence of a thick layer of dirt, widespread stains of various kinds, loss of the closing clips.

Given the perfect conditions of the stitching and binding in general, an intervention without disassembly was carried out with indirect cleaning of the pages and delicate cleaning of the blanket.

Thanks to the clear imprint of the shape on the skin it was possible to make clips similar to the original ones, in order to allow the correct closure of the book which, otherwise, given the lack of joint at the hinge, would have remained open on the front cut.

This project has been carried out for Coo.Be.C, Cooperativa di Beni Cultural, Spoleto.