"In the Flesh? Anthropodermic Bibliopegy Verification and Its Implications" by Gordon (2016)

Gordon, J.; "In the Flesh? Anthropodermic Bibliopegy Verification and Its Implications", RBM: A Journal of Rare Books, Manuscripts and Cultural Heritage 17(2) (2016) 118–33.

URL (rbm.acrl.org, open access)

La dorure sur cuir: reliure, ciselure et gaufrure en Allemagne par Stockbauer et Maul (1888)

Stockbauer, Jacob; Maul, Johannes; La dorure sur cuir: reliure, ciselure et gaufrure en Allemagne, 2 vol., Paris, B. Rouveyre (1888).

URL (Gallica)

Classification of finishing tools in Greek bookbinding by Sarris (2010)

Sarris, Nikolas; Classification of finishing tools in Greek bookbinding: establishing links from the Library of St Catherine's Monastery, Sinai, Egypt. PhD thesis, University of the Arts London (2010).

URL (UAL Repository)

Abstract:
The thesis examines the decoration of Greek bookbinding, through the study of the leather-covered bindings from the monastery of Saint Catherine in Sinai, Egypt.
The manuscript collection is remarkable for the variety of binding styles that represent mainly Greek but also other bookbinding traditions, including Georgian. Syrian and Eastern European. The examination of the decorative motifs tooled on the leather covered bindings aims to identify the style and characteristics of bookbinding at the monastery. Moreover, links between and evidence for specific bindings and the manuscripts they contain are established by grouping them and relating them to specific binders and bookbinding workshops. The workshops of the monastery are examined in parallel with groups of bindings that were imported into the monastery. The extent to which the trade in books and the circulation of binding techniques between the monastery and the west was a reflection of the relations of the monastery with its dependencies is also explored.
Rubbings of the approximately 5500 tool impressions on the 1195 decorated bindings have provided the core research material. They have been identified, classified and organized into a descriptive electronic database. Imaging techniques have been developed to compare the scanned impressions, which permitted the identification of impressions of the same finishing tools. Based on the identity of their decorative tools and on the process of comparison of their structural features, a number of the bindings have been ascribed to a total of 70 specific workshops, whose dates and origins are explored. 16 of these workshops - nine from the monastery of St Catherine and seven from elsewhere, which produced bindings imported to the monastery, are discussed analytically. In addition to that, 40 original bookbinding finishing tools were discovered at the monastery during this research, which have provided invaluable material for our understanding of the tooling methods and particularities of decorated book covers at the monastery.
The largest corpus of finishing tools used on Greek bindings to date has been compiled to provide a reference tool which will aid future research on Greek bookbinding.

The new website of the Museum of Leather Craft, Northampton (UK)

The Museum of Leather Craft (IMOLC), Northampton (UK)
http://www.imolc.com/

“Thermal analysis on historical leather bookbinding treated with PEG and hydroxyapatite nanoparticles” by Ershad-Langroudi and Mirmontahai (2015)

Ershad-Langroudi, Amir; Mirmontahai, Akram, “Thermal analysis on historical leather bookbinding treated with PEG and hydroxyapatite nanoparticles”, Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry 120(2) (2015) 1119–1127.

DOI:10.1007/s10973-015-4461-z (SpringerLink, restricted access)

Abstract:

Thermal analysis approaches give the opportunity to investigate structural changes in historical leather like as dehydration, crystallization, and melting process. An historical leather sample from nineteenth century was considered in this study. The leather samples were treated with a suspension of nano-hydroxyapatite and polyethylene glycol 400 (PEG 400) in an aqueous solution. The treatment effects on the structural changes in historical leather were studied by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermogravimetric analysis (TG). DSC technique has been employed to study the thermal-associated changes in historical leather to an artificial aging and the conservation of nanocomposite treatment. Moreover, thermogravimetric analysis and differential thermal gravimetry (TG–DTG) are used as useful methods for the investigation of the mass losses of the treated and untreated samples at the progressive heating in N2 gas flow. Furthermore, scanning electron microscopy studies indicated the collagen fibril changes in treated sample in comparison with those of untreated sample and after accelerated aging test.

Textes sur cuir et peau dans l'oeuvre L'alun de Méditerranée (2005)

The book L’alun de Méditerranée, edited by Philippe Borgard, Jean-Pierre Brun and Maurice Picon, published in 2005 by the Centre Jean Bérard, was recently made available on line through OpenEdition Books. Some of the texts describe the use of alum to preserve animal skins (tawing, mégissage, hongroyage, concia). The authors and the titles are as follows:

- Cheryl Porter,
“The use of Alum in the preparation of tawed skin for book covers in the 11th – 15th centuries: advantages and disadvantages for the book structure”, pp. 293–298.
URL

- Claire Chahine,
“L’utilisation de l’alun dans la transformation de la peau en cuir”, pp. 299–309.
URL

- Eva Halasz Csiba,
"Le cuir de Hongrie en France entre les XIVe et XVIIIe siècles: Histoire et problématique d’un transfert technique basé sur l’usage de l’alun", pp. 311-322.
URL

- Fulvia Lo Schiavo,
"La concia delle pelli nella Sardegna nuragica: un problema aperto", pp. 343-352.
URL
 

“Analytical techniques used for the characterization and authentification of six ancient religious manuscripts (XVIII–XIX centuries)” by Vornicu et al (2015)

Vornicu, Nicoleta; Deselnicu, Viorica; Bibire, Cristina; Ivanov, Daniela; Doroftei, Florica; “Analytical techniques used for the characterization and authentification of six ancient religious manuscripts (XVIII–XIX centuries)”, Microscopy Research and Technique 78(1) (2015) 70–84.

DOI: 10.1002/jemt.22447 (Wiley Online Library)

Abstract:

This article presents the experimental results of a research on six manuscripts (three of the XVIII century and three of XIX century) belonging collection of old religious books to the Moldovan Metropolitan Church of Romania. Non-invasive techniques (optical microscopy [OM], scanning electron microscopy/energy dispersive X-ray system, X-ray fluorescence analysis, shrinkage temperature, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy/attentuated total reflectance) provided information on the degree of degradation and identification of the leather bookbinding type. Moreover, visual assessment and OM revealed the extent of the surface degradation (wane, biological attack, change color, etc.). The degradation extent of the skin bindings was determined on the 12 samples. The insight on the mechanism of degradation was accomplished by analyzing the deterioration of collagen fibers in terms of shrinkage temperature and chemical modifications induced by oxidative and hydrolytic processes. Shrinkage temperature values were lower compared with the literature data for collagen, indicating that the leather bookbinding suffered intrinsic damage. Morphological analysis was accomplished by microscopy and allowed the identification of skin type and provided information about its processing technique. Mineral elements were identified for leather composition and contributed to the information regarding the origin and the extent of degradation of the leather bookbinding, of the studied manuscripts. The analyzed results were useful in determining the state of preservation and were able to provide an increased efficiency of further restoration. The correlation of the obtained data brought new contributions to the knowledge of the leather covers for the book technique in the XVIII and XIX centuries in monastic workshops of Eastern Europe.

"Russian Yufte as ‘Russia Leather’ in Eighteenth and Nineteenth Century Western Bookbinding" by Tsygankova (2012)

Valeria Tsygankova, "Russian Yufte as ‘Russia Leather’ in Eighteenth and Nineteenth Century Western Bookbinding" (2012)

URL / PDF

Piel sobre tabla. Encuadernaciones mudéjares en la BNE (2013)

Exposición organizada por la Biblioteca Nacional de España en 2013 (12/03/2013 al 19/05/2013).

El arte mudéjar se desarrolla en los reinos cristianos de la Península Ibérica, iniciado por artesanos musulmanes y judíos en un momento muy especial en la historia del libro – a caballo entre el manuscrito y el impreso - y de la Historia de España – el paso de una sociedad islamizada a una cristiana. Este estilo, que tendrá enormes repercusiones en la arquitectura y las artes decorativas, tiene un excelente campo de creación en el mundo del libro y, muy especialmente, en el arte de la encuadernación.

Exposición virtual 

Catálogo (PDF interactivo)

Cordobanes y guadamecies por Ferrandis Torres (1955)

José Ferrandis Torres, Cordobanes y guadamecies: catálogo ilustrado de la exposición, Madrid, Palacio de la Biblioteca y Museos Nacionales (1955).

URL  / PDF

Arte della legatura a Brera. Storie di libri e biblioteche. Il periodo Barocco (2012)

Arte della legatura a Brera. Storie di libri e biblioteche. Il periodo Barocco. Catalogo della mostra a cura di Federico Macchi, Milano, Biblioteca Nazionale Braidense (2012).

PDF

“Anthropodermic bibliopegy..." by Nambudiri & Nambudiri (2014)

Nambudiri, N.S., Nambudiri, V.E.; “Anthropodermic bibliopegy: Lessons from a different sort of dermatologic text”, JAMA Dermatology 150(1) (2014) 41–41. 

Doi:10.1001/jamadermatol.2013.7473

From the text:

The practice of anthropodermic bibliopegy—the use of human skin for the binding of printed books and manuscripts—dates back several centuries, with examples reported from nations in Europe, Asia, and the Americas. Individuals whose skin has been used for anthropodermic bindings range from authors and scientists who willingly donated their bodies upon their deaths to criminals and the infirm whose corpses were used for binding of texts on law and medicine.

Also about anthropodermic bibliopegy a very recent post at the Houghton Library Blog:
"The science of anthropodermic binding"
URL

"Use of thermal analysis methods to asses the damage in the bookbindings of some religious books from XVIII century, stored in Romanian libraries" by Budrugeac et al (2014)

Budrugeac, P.; Cucos, A.; Miu, L.;"Use of thermal analysis methods to asses the damage in the bookbindings of some religious books from XVIII century, stored in Romanian libraries", Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry 116(1) (2014) 141–149
Doi:10.1007/s10973-013-3414-7 (restricted access)

Abstract: 

The scope of this work was the assessment of thermo-oxidative deterioration, hydrothermal stability, and crystalline zone deterioration of some bookbinding leathers from some religious books published in XVIII century stored in Romanian libraries. In this purpose, the following thermal analysis methods were employed: thermogravimetry/derivative thermogravimetry (TG/DTG), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA). The thermo-oxidative damage of investigated leathers was characterized by the rate of the first thermo-oxidation process put in evidence in TG/DTG curves recorded in static air atmosphere. The hydrothermal stability was characterized by shrinkage temperature determined by DSC analysis of leathers in water excess. The damage of the crystalline zone of leathers was determined by DSC in nitrogen flow and DMA analyses. The qualitative damage for each leather and each kind of degradation was evaluated using the criteria resulted by thermal analysis of a large number of collagen-based materials (pure collagens, new and old parchments and leathers). The obtained results could be used for finding the best possible methods for preservation and/or restoration of the investigated bookbinding leathers.

Guide manuel théorique et pratique de l’ouvrier ou praticien doreur sur cuir par Bosquet (1903)

Bosquet, Emile; Guide manuel théorique et pratique de l’ouvrier ou praticien doreur sur cuir,  Librairie polytechnique Ch. Béranger, Paris (1903)

URL (InternetArchive)

"Evaluation of the use of SC6000 in conjunction with Klucel G as a conservation treatment for bookbinding leather..." by Johnson (2013)

Johnson, Anna; “Evaluation of the use of SC6000 in conjunction with Klucel G as a conservation treatment for bookbinding leather: notes on a preliminary study”, Journal of the Institute of Conservation 36(2) (2013) 125–144.
DOI:10.1080/19455224.2013.815646 (restricted access)

Abstract:

This article begins to address the issue of a lack of reliable data on the effects of materials commonly applied to bookbinding leather by conservators. A series of tests were undertaken with the aim of determining the effects of Klucel G, SC6000 and Renaissance Wax on bookbinding leather. Of the vast array of materials historically applied to damaged leather bindings, these represent types of material with relatively widespread use over the past 20–30 years.

Samples treated with Klucel G, SC6000 and Renaissance Wax, alone and in a specific range of combinations, were exposed to a dry acidic environment for periods of 6 and 12 weeks. Measurements of shrinkage temperature and colour change, as well as comparative fibre assessment, were undertaken for all samples. Penetration of leather by Klucel G-based consolidants was measured by treating samples with consolidant preparations impregnated with a fluorescent marker (UVITEX® OB). These were examined in cross-section under near-ultraviolet (UV) radiation at 60–100× magnification.

For reasons relating to study design and the materials and equipment used, the results produced were not conclusive, but do suggest a need for further investigation. To indicate a possible basis for future research in this area the strengths and weaknesses of the experimental procedures are reviewed.

Résumé:

«L'évaluation de l'emploi du SC6000 en combinaison avec la Klucel G comme traitement de conservation des reliures de cuir: note sur une étude préliminaire».

Cet article commence par évoquer le problème du manque de données fiables sur les effets des matériaux communément appliqués aux reliures de cuir par les restaurateurs. Une série de tests fut entreprise dans le but de déterminer les effets de la Klucel G, du SC6000 et de la cire Renaissance sur les reliures de cuir. Parmi le large panel de matériaux historiquement employés sur les reliures de cuir endommagés, ceux-ci représentent ceux dont l'usage s'est relativement largement répandu durant les dernières 20–30 années. Des échantillons traités avec de la Klucel G, du SC6000 et de la cire Renaissance, seuls ou en combinaison selon une gamme spécifique furent exposés à un environnement sec et acide sur des périodes allant de 6 à 12 semaines. Les mesures des températures de rétrécissement et de changement de couleur, de même que des évaluations comparatives de fibres furent entreprises pour tous les échantillons. La pénétration du cuir par les consolidants à base de Klucel G fut mesurée en traitant les échantillons avec des préparations de consolidant imprégnées d'un marqueur fluorescent (UVITEX® OB). Ceux-ci furent examinés en coupe sous radiations proches des UV avec des grossissements de 60 à 100x.

Pour des raisons relatives au projet d'étude, aux matériaux et aux équipements employés, les résultats produits ne furent pas concluants, mais suggèrent la nécessité d'une recherche plus approfondie. Afin d'établir une base intéressante pour de futures recherches dans ce domaine, les forces et les faiblesses des procédures expérimentales sont passées en revue.

Zusammenfassung
„Auswertung des Gebrauchs von SC6000 in Verbindung mit Klucel G in der Konservierung/Restaurierung von Buchbindeleder: Notizen zu einer Vorstudie”

Dieser Artikel beschäftigt sich mit dem Problem Mangels an verlässlichen Daten zum Effekt von häufig gebrauchten Materialien in der Lederrestaurierung. Es wurde eine Serie von Tests durchgeführt, die die Effekte von Klucel G, SC6000 und Renaissance wax auf Buchbindeleder evaluieren sollten. Bei der großen Auswahl von Materialien, die traditionellerweise an geschädigtem Leder verwendet werden, stellen diese drei Substanzen Materialtypen dar, die während der letzten 20 oder 30 Jahre am relativ häufigsten gebraucht wurden.

Proben, die mit Klucel G, SC 6000 und Renaissance wax, alleine oder in spezifischen Kombinationen, behandelt worden sind, wurden einer trockenen, sauren Umgebung für respektive sechs und zwölf Wochen ausgesetzt. Bei allen Proben wurden Schrumpftemperatur und Farbumschlag gemessen sowie ein Faservergleich durchgeführt. Die Penetration der Leder durch Sicherungsmittel auf Klucel G Basis wurde mit Hilfe eines fluoreszierenden Markers, UVITEX OB, gemessen. Diese Proben wurden als Querschnitte mit ultravioletter Strahlung unter Vergrößerung von 60 bis 100× untersucht.

Aus verschiedenen Gründen, die meist mit dem Aufbau der Studie, der Materialien und der Ausstattung verbunden waren, konnten aus den Resultaten keinen Schlussfolgerungen gezogen werden; allerdings zeigen sie, daß weitere Studien nötig sind. Um für zukünftige Untersuchungen einen Basis zu schaffen, werden die Stärken und Schwächen der verwendeten Methodologie beschrieben.

Resumen

“Evaluación del uso conjunto de SC6000 con Klucel G como tratamiento de conservación para encuadernación en piel: notas sobre un estudio preliminar”.

Este artículo menciona primero, la carencia de datos fiables sobre los efectos de los materiales comúnmente aplicados por los conservadores de la encuadernación en piel. Se realizaron una serie de pruebas con el objetivo de determinar los efectos del Klucel G, SC6000 y la Cera Renaissance en la encuadernación en piel. De la amplia gama de materiales históricamente utilizadas en las encuadernaciones de cueros dañados, los productos mencionados han tenido un uso relativamente generalizado en los últimos 20–30 años.

Las muestras tratadas con Klucel G, SC6000 y Cera Renaissance, solos y en un rango específico de combinaciones, se expusieroon a un ambiente ácido y seco por períodos de 6 y 12 semanas. En todas las muestras, se llevaron a cabo mediciones de contracción por temperatura y de cambio de color, así como se hizo una evaluación comparativa de la fibra. La penetración en la piel por consolidantes basados en Klucel-G se midió mediante el tratamiento de las muestras con las preparaciones consolidantes impregnadas con un marcador fluorescente (UVITEX ® OB). Estas fueron examinadas en la sección transversal, bajo luz ultra violeta (UV) con 60–100× de aumento.

Por motivos relacionados con el diseño del estudio y de los materiales y equipos utilizados, los resultados obtenidos no fueron concluyentes, pero sugieren la necesidad de una mayor investigación. Con el fín de indicar una posible base para futuras investigaciones en esta área, se examinaron las fortalezas y debilidades de los procedimientos experimentales.

Medieval Manuscripts: Bookbinding terms, materials, methods and models (2013)

Medieval Manuscripts:
Bookbinding terms, materials, methods and models
URL / PDF

This beautifully illustrated booklet compiled by the Special Collections Conservation Unit of the Preservation Department of Yale University Library is now online. It is a PDF version of the printed booklet on bookbinding included in the Traveling Scriptorium (http://travelingscriptorium.library.yale.edu/) kit.
It contains sections on materials of Medieval bookbinding; terminology; Carolingian, Romanesque, Gothic, and limp bindings; and a comprehensive bibliography.

"A survey of current leather conservation practices" by Teper and Straw (2011)

Teper, Jennifer Hain; Straw, Melissa; “A survey of current leather conservation practices”, The Book & Paper Group Annual 30 (2011) 131–139

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Abstract:

In fall 2008, a survey of leather conservation practices was sent out to fellow conservators as well as allied professionals via various Listservs. The goal of this survey was to ascertain what types of treatments and repairs were being practiced on leather bindings in a variety of professional settings. The authors have presented the results of this survey and analyzed them to show the continuum of leather treatment within and outside of the conservation community, highlighting not only emerging trends and established treatments but also when, why, and by whom more traditional treatments, such as leather dressing, are still being practiced. The survey results gathered detailed data from 57 national and international respondents, many of whom are conservation professionals and support staff, but with significant responses from allied professions as well. The results show that newer leather treatments, such as solvent-set tissue hinge repair, consolidation via application of cocktails of microcrystalline waxes and cellulose ethers, and the use of molded cave paper as a substitute for leather appear to be accepted and utilized in the conservation field, but that traditional treatments such as the application of leather dressings and cleaning with saddle soap are also still used.

“Las encuadernaciones mudéjares de lacerías con motivos centrales en la Catedral de Toledo” por Carpallo Bautista y Burgos Bordonau (2012)

Carpallo Bautista, A.; Burgos Bordonau, E.; “Las encuadernaciones mudéjares de lacerías con motivos centrales en la Catedral de Toledo”, Anales de Documentación 15(1) (2012) 1-30

DOI:10.6018/analesdoc.15.1.138811 / PDF

Resumen:

Dentro de la historia de la encuadernación española destaca el florecimiento del estilo mudéjar entre los siglos XIII y XVI, sobre todo en la península ibérica, sobresaliendo los trabajos realizados en algunas ciudades como Toledo. La Biblioteca Capitular de la Catedral de Toledo dispone uno de los grupos más importantes de España, cuantitativa y cualitativamente, aunque su estado de conservación no es el más adecuado en muchos de los ejemplares. El presente trabajo pretende estudiar y analizar los diferentes tipos de encuadernaciones mudéjares con lacerías, tipo de decoración muy propio de ciudades como Toledo, Salamanca y Barcelona. Se han estudiado las estructuras decorativas y los elementos artísticos empleados, las técnicas de decoración y de construcción, así como los materiales utilizados en la elaboración, con lo que hemos podido establecer el origen o procedencia de cada encuadernación en función de la estructura decorativa, de los motivos decorativos individuales, de las filigranas de las guardas originales y del tipo de cabezadas.

Abstract:

The Mudejar style between the thirteenth and sixteenth centuries in the Iberian Peninsula is specially remarkable, within the history of the Spanish bookbinding, outstanding some of the works done in the city of Toledo. The Capitular Library of Toledo’s Cathedral has one of the most important collections qualitatively and quantitatively speaking, though its state of preservation is not the best one in many of the items. This work pretends to study and analize the different kinds of mudéjar bookbindings with interlaces, a typical style of decoration of cities like Toledo, Salamanca and Barcelona. A study of the decorative structures, artistic elements, tecniques of decoration and construction has been done as well as the materials used for their making. With all these elements we have been able to establish the origin of each bookbinding according to its decorative structure, the individual decorative motifs, the watermark of the original flyleaves and the kind of tops.

"Identification of a white substance on 20th century leather bindings" by Pemberton and Nel (2008)

Pemberton, Briony; Nel, Petronella; "Identification of a white substance on 20th century leather bindings", AICCM Bulletin 31 (2008) 28-35

PDF

Abstract:

The aims of this investigation were to identify a white substance visible on the spines of leather-bound volumes titled Victorian Law Reports and to address any issues of concern. Initially, it was thought that it was a mold outbreak. However, preliminary examination using visual and microscopic methods ruled this out. An analytical path involving environmental scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive spectroscopy (SEM-EDS), microchemical spot testing, and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy determined that the white substance was composed of one or more fatty acids and possibly their respective calcium salts. In addition, this investigation provides a review of the available literature and an analytical path for identifying white bloom on leather-bound volumes.

Bookbinding in England and France by Fletcher (1897)

Fletcher, William Younger; Bookbinding in England and France, Seeley & Co., London (1897)
URL (Internet Archive)