new publication

Conservation of Books is the highly anticipated reference work on global book structures and their conservation, offering the first modern, comprehensive overview on this subject.

The volume takes an international approach to its subject. Written by over 70 specialists in conservation and conservation science based in 19 countries, its 26 chapters cover traditional book structures from around the world, the materials from which they are made and how they degrade, and how to preserve and conserve them. It also examines the theoretical underpinnings of conservation: what and how to treat, and the ethical, cultural, and economic implications of treatment. Technical drawings and photographs illustrate the structures and treatments examined throughout the book. Ultimately, readers gain an in-depth understanding of the materiality of books in numerous global contexts and reflect on the practical considerations involved in their analysis and treatment.

Conservation of Books is a quintessential reference work for book conservators and anyone working with books, such as collection managers, librarians, curators, dealers, collectors, historians, and related professionals. It is also an indispensable text for students to complement hands-on training in this field.

For a 20% off discount, use code SMA39 here.
Please do not share this code directly on any other platform—link to this site if you want to share. It is now valid through the end of November 2023 and applies to both the hardcover and eBook. A paperback will not be available before September 2024.

We are celebrating with a year’s worth of events! All the details are here.

Table of Contents

1 Foreword, Abigail Bainbridge

Section 1: Book Structure & History
2 The Birth of the Codex, Georgios Boudalis, Julia Miller, Minah Song

3 Eastern Mediterranean Bindings
3.1 Coptic Bindings, Georgios Boudalis, Francisco H. Trujillo
3.2 Ethiopic Bindings, Marco di Bella, Nikolas Sarris
3.3 Islamic Bindings, Kristine Rose-Beers, Karin Scheper, Amélie Couvrat-Desvergnes, Nil Baydar
3.4 Armenian Bindings, Yasmeen Khan, Tamara Ohanyan
3.5 Byzantine Bindings, Georgios Boudalis, Nikolas Sarris
3.6 Syriac Bindings, Karin Scheper, François Vinourd
3.7 Georgian Bindings, Maria Kalligerou
3.8 Samaritan Bindings, Julia Poirier
3.9 Jewish Bindings, Julia Poirier

4 South-Asian Bindings
4.1 Indic Bindings, Amélie Couvrat-Desvergnes
4.2 Tibetan Bindings, Agnieszka Helman-Ważny
4.3 Kashmiri Bindings, Jasdip Singh Dhillon
4.4 Sikh Bindings, Jasdip Singh Dhillon

5 East Asian Bindings
5.1 Chinese Bindings, Robert Minte, Emma Lau
5.2 Korean Bindings, Minah Song
5.3 Japanese Bindings, Kyoko Kusunoki, Mito Matsumaru

6 Southeast Asian Bindings
6.1 Upper Mainland Southeast Asian Bindings, Agnieszka Helman-Ważny
6.2 Indonesian Bindings, Karin Scheper

7 European Bindings; 7.1 Manuscripts in the pre-printing era, Elodié Lévêque
7.2 Printed books, Roger S. Williams, Melissa Tedone
7.3 Stationery bindings, Holly Smith, Katerina Williams, Sonja Schwoll
7.4 Albums & scrapbooks, Jane Rutherston, Olivia Primanis

8 North American bindings (present-day Canada and United States), Julia Miller, Consuela Metzger

9 Latin American Bindings, Martha Elena Romero Ramírez, María Ángela Silvetti

Section 2: Bookbinding Materials and their Degradation

10 Introduction to Bookbinding Materials and their Degradation, Abigail Bainbridge

11 Materials and Identification
11.1 Papyrus, Marieka Kaye
11.2 Skins, Samuel Johns, Tuuli Kasso
11.3 Textiles, Joanne Hackett
11.4 Paper
11.4.1 Introduction, Agnieszka Helman-Ważny, Abigail Bainbridge
11.4.2 East Asian handmade paper, Minah Song
11.4.3 Tibetan, Nepali, and Indian handmade paper, Agnieszka Helman-Ważny, Amélie Couvrat-Desvergnes
11.4.4 Handmade Papers of Central Asia, Western Asia (Middle East), and North Africa, Fiona McLees
11.4.5 European handmade paper, Abigail Bainbridge
11.4.6 Machine-made paper, Kimberly Kwan, Abigail Bainbridge
11.5 Paper-based boards, Anne Hillam
11.6 Wood, Roger S. Williams, Tristram Bainbridge
11.7 Birchbark, Agnieszka Helman-Ważny
11.8 Palm leaves, Agnieszka Helman-Ważny
11.9 Metals, Erin Hammeke
11.10 Adhesives, Bronwen Glover, Mito Matsumaru
11.11 Manuscript Media, Cheryl Porter
11.12 East Asian Manuscript and Printing Inks, Minah Song
11.13 Pre-industrial Western printing inks, c.1450–1850, Elizabeth Savage, Linda Stiber Morenus

12 The Ten Agents of Deterioration, Caroline Bendix, Tiffany Eng Moore

13 Polymers and their Degradation, Norman Billingham, Barry Knight, Paul Garside, David Mills

Section 3: Approaches to Conservation

14 Introduction to Approaches to Conservation, Melissa Tedone

15 Decision-making, William Bennett, Lauren Moon-Schott

16 Conservation in Context, Lauren Moon-Schott, Fiona McLees

17 Previous Treatments, Lauren Moon-Schott

18 Social, Cultural, and Religious Considerations in Conservation Decision-making, Fletcher Durant, Bethany Goodman

Section 4: Preventive Conservation

19 Introduction to Preventive Conservation, Fletcher Durant

20 Boxing, storage, and transportation
20.1 Boxing of books, Bridget Mitchell, Abigail Bainbridge
20.2 Storage of books, Bridget Mitchell, Abigail Bainbridge
20.3 Transportation of books, Lang Ngo

21 Exhibition, Alexa McNaught-Reynolds

22 Digitisation, Jessica Pollard, Samantha Cawson

Section 5: Techniques of Conservation

23 Introduction to Techniques of Conservation, Melissa Tedone

24 Conservation Documentation, Alberto Campagnolo

25 Material-based Treatments
25.1 Papyrus Treatment, Marieka Kaye
25.2 Parchment treatment, Élodie Lévêque, Cédric Levière
25.3 Leather treatment, Jennifer Anderson
25.4 Paper treatment, Abigail Bainbridge, Kimberly Kwan, Tiffany Eng Moore, Kristine Rose-Beers
25.5 Media treatment, Kristine Rose-Beers
25.6 Conservation Treatment Concerns for Printing Inks on Paper, Linda Stiber Morenus
25.7 Board treatment, Roger S. Williams, Tristram Bainbridge
25.8 Metal treatment, Zora Sanders, Camilla Zanon Paglione

26 Structural repairs
26.1 Internal Features and Components; Holly Smith, Liz Ralph
26.2 Board reattachment and spine repair, Karen Vidler, Abigail Bainbridge, Arthur Green
26.3 Binding structure, functionality, and integrity, Sonja Schwoll, Andrea Pataki.