CONDITION ON RECEIPT: The bound manuscript was extremely deteriorated. It was originally bound in full leather but a fragmentary spine and leather label were all that remained. Boards, endleaves and sewn endbands were missing. The text block had been crudely stitched through its center into a cardboard wrapper which was in turn covered with a paper overcover. The temporary wrapper and overcover were dirty, worn and acidic. Four-folio gatherings were sewn on four raised cords. The text block consisted of leaves of laid paper with entries written primarily in pencil and iron gall ink. A few colored pencil notations and one small passage in red ink appeared in the text block. Entries began at both the front and back of the text block, and were written in both orientations. Many leaves had been ruled in pencil. Media varied in intensity and some entries and rules were faint. The text block was split into two sections. The pages were dirty, discolored, acidic and brittle.  Some pages appeared mottled with areas of lighter discoloration. As a result of embrittlement, many leaves were fully or partially split along the spine edge and were detached from the volume. Iron gall inks had penetrated the paper, stained adjacent pages in some areas, and had caused splits and losses to many leaves. Many leaves were fragmentary with losses along the edges and corners and many small fragments of text were loose in the gutter. A tear in one leaf was mended with pressure-sensitive tape which had discolored the paper. Two loose leaves were tucked into the text block at what was likely not their original location. The correct order of the two leaves and the exact location of fragments were uncertain. A manuscript ink signature was written on the interior of the front of the cardboard wrapper. A note written in ink on red paper was stapled to the back cover. In addition, a printed label with typescript and other fragments of paper were adhered to the back cover. 

 

TREATMENT PERFORMED: Written and photographic documentation was provided.  The volume was collated and disbound into single leaves. The inks were tested for solubility.  The pressure-sensitive tape was removed with heat and residual adhesive stains were reduced with acetone. The pages were surface cleaned where necessary and possible. Leaves with iron gall ink entries were washed in a 30:70 solution of ethanol and filtered water and leaves with graphite entries were washed in filtered water. The leaves were alkalized (deacidified) with calcium hydroxide and sized with a ½% solution of gelatin. Tears were mended where necessary with Japanese kozo paper and wheat starch paste.  Leaves that were particularly fragile were lined on the verso with Japanese kozo paper and wheat starch paste. The leaves were encapsulated in polyester film. The volume was post bound in full cloth and titled using a gold-stamped leather label. The volume was housed in a custom phase box.