Conservation of John Stuart Blackie book collection, University of Edinburgh
On 2 November 2015 conservation treatment began on an important collection of rare Greek books from the library of John Stuart Blackie, Professor of Greek at the University from 1852 to 1882. The collection was in a moderate condition, exhibiting common types of damage such as loose and detached boards, detached spines and broken corners. To date, 237 books have been treated. A range of conservation treatments have been carried out depending on the condition of the volume. These include surface cleaning the edges of the text block and endpapers using a museum vac and smoke sponge, reattaching loose or detached boards and spines, corner repair, leather consolidation, and toned outer repairs. When conservation is complete, all books are rehoused in bespoke handmade enclosures. This work will ensure that the collection can be safely consulted by students, researchers and the wider community for generations to come.
Grant given:
2015, 2017, 2018
