A volume from the 16th c. royal library

Conservation of a book from the 16th century royal library of Sigismundus II Augustus, a king of Poland and the Grand Duke of Lithuania.

Vilnius University Library, Rare Book Department, document No. II 4708-4712a.

Rare and precious volume of several 16th century prints with a very damaged binding. A part of the text-block was missing and provoking further damage of the spine, breaking of cords, leather, parchment linings, etc. Since the remaining binding provides valuable historical information, it was treated with especially strong emphasis on minimal intervention. The preservation of the original shape of the book and compensation of the structural losses was ensured by unattached inserts made of archival quality materials.

Conservation by Ieva Rusteikaitė.

Photographed by Raimondas Malaiška.

Note. Due to the fact that pictures were taken in different periods, there might be slight color differences in the photographs.

Condition

Dust
Dirt and stains
Tears, deformation and paper loss in the pages, especially pages inf the front and the endleaves
Loss of the 1/4 of the text-block
Important deformation of the binding
Broken sewing support
Detachment of several leaves
Broken transversal spine linings
Loose upper board
Broken boards, almost half the upper board is completely lost
Important loss of covering leather
Leather previously treated with heavy animal glue
Very fragile remaining fragment of the spine leather
Almost completely lost clasps