Restoration of Molls Atlas
This was an 18th century atlas in a very perished quarter leather binding. The original sheep spine was rotten, and the marble paper on the boards had worn away completely in places, and all around the edges. I rebacked the book (using acid free calf, a much more durable material than sheep), sewing new headbands, and replacing all the missing marble paper with contemporary marble of the same patten. This is really an example of how a very badly damaged binding can be restored if necessary.
Click on an image below to see a bigger version.
Book prior to restoration in poor condition.
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Lifting the remains of the original marble.
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Sourced 18th century marble papers contempory with the book.
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Board showing replacement marble laid in underneith the original.
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New headband sewn.
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Original endpapers lifted
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New joint put down underneath
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Joint put down.
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New joint put down underneath
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New leather spine showing the raised bands.
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New leather spine going under the remains of the original spine.
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Reback finished having saved all of the original binding.
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Reback finished having saved all of the original binding.
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