We are always facing challenges when it comes to the conservation treatment of some of the University Libraries books. This one
was not an exception. From our Special
Collection and Archives, A Dictionary of the English Language, from Samuel
Johnson, 1755, in two volumes, is one of the most important reference works for the English language.
In full maroon calf leather, the original cover showed so
much stress from the years of usage, with the original spine missing and large
areas of loss, including damaged corners and detached endbands.
A few decades
ago the book was rebacked in a coated leather, false raised bands and no hollow.
Not having a hollow made this new leather addition very susceptible to stress
due to its characteristics, becoming very brittle and breaking in several parts due to the weight of the large textblock ( 11 in. x 16 in.)
and the heavy usage from our researchers.
Front cover
Back cover
Endbands and edge loss.
First steps on restoration using Japanese Paper Moriki.
Spine in a double layer of Japanese Paper and linen.
An insertion, on both boards, close to the joint, achieving the original leather level.
Hollow in Japanese Paper Moriki
Front cover restored.
Back cover restored.
New endbands embroidered, 'per original'.
New Japanese Paper internal hinges, 'per original'.
The rebacked spine.
Some useful links:
- http://uncg.worldcat.org/title/dictionary-of-the-english-language-in-which-the-words-are-deduced-from-their-originals-and-illustrated-in-their-different-significations-by-examples-from-the-best-writers-to-which-are-prefixed-a-history-of-the-language-and-an-english-grammar/oclc/1637325&referer=brief_results
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Dictionary_of_the_English_Language
- http://johnsonsdictionaryonline.com/?page_id=7070
- http://www.bl.uk/learning/langlit/dic/johnson/1755johnsonsdictionary.html