"The Cottager’s Kitchen" 1859

The front and back boards of this book had come loose from the spine. There was a white masking tape residue on the spine. The edges of the boards were torn and tattered. There was masking tape inside the book and insect damage at the top of the pages throughout the book. There were tears on many of the tops of the pages and the original flyleaves were missing.

      

The boards were cleaned using lighter fuel. In-situ repairs using heatset tissue were carried out throughout the book mainly to the top edges. The first two sections were flattened and repaired as they were the worst affected. Sewing repairs were carried out. New ‘made’ endpapers were made using some original Victorian bible paper. The board edges were repaired using fine Japanese tissue which was painted to match the original cloth and laid on using wheat flour paste.

   

A cloth similar in colour and texture as was used for the reback material. A hollow was made the spine was also lined with fraynot and rebacked and cased in.

  

The book was then lightly polished with Renaissance Wax and a simple protective slip case made to house it.