Paper & Book Restoration 1

Paper restoration and conservation requires many skills, knowledge of different types of paper and it's manufacture over the centuries is an essential requirement as not only do you need to know how to remove stains and identify fibre structure, but you also need to know what properties to replace during the restoration.
For example a "size" suitable for one type of paper may render another to become either transparent or brittle, also some papers require a stronger size than others.
Stains are just one small part of a conservationists work, replacing missing text, knitting fibres together, and retaining as much of the original as possible requires great skill and patience.

Paper & Book Restoration 2

This plate required several baths for each stain and the corners repaired.
The process also removes the dirt from illustration making the colours brighter
making the plate a near perfect original.

Paper & Book Restoration

Welcome to Paul Tronson, Master Bookbinder's site at Period Fine Bindings - it is devoted to Books, Fine Bindings, Great Binders and the Art of Bookbinding. You can use the top ten links on the right hand side of this page to access the completed links on this site. This is a very good place to start:

http://periodfinebindings.typepad.com/period_fine_bindings/

If you'd like to contact Paul, to make an appointment to discuss a valuation, commission or just for a chat about rare books then call +44 (0) 1564 793800 or email: tronson1@gmail.com at Period Fine Bindings, Yew Tree Farm, Wootton Wawen, Nr Stratford Upon Avon, Warwickshire UK B95 6BY You can read about Paul's experiences and some of the amazing bookbinding commissions he has undertaken here

If you'd like to receive your free copy of Paul's newsletter: 'The English Bookbinder'" (published irregularly) then please click here and type your name and 'SUBSCRIBE ME PLEASE' in the 'SUBJECT' LINE.

Removing Foxing

"Foxing" is a mildew spore caused by changes in relative humidity ie; damp, and accellerated by (F)errous (OX)ide (iron) in the paper and ink.
From the late 18th century paper manufacturers have been adding chemicals to the paper in it's pulp state, chemical wood pulp as opposed to mechanical wood pulp.
1st edition Dickens are notoriously famous for it's foxed plates and clean text as both types of paper were used.
The course of action often depends on the severity of the of the foxing, in the case below there are other stains involved that need to be identified to determine how many baths are needed and how this will affect the integrity of the structure of the paper and the media involved.
Period Fine Bindings have developed a unique aqueous formulae that neutralises the spore and removes it without any detrement to the paper or ink.

For more information Contact Paul Tronson at:

periodfinebindings@googlemail.com

Next Page