Goya, Don Francisco

Madrid: 1863

 

CONDITION ON RECEIPT: The half parchment and grained cloth binding was worn and dirty. The front joint was partially broken at the head and tail. The internal cloth hinges were intact, but the front marbled endleaf was separated from the text block and the binding was detached at the front of the volume. The text block consisted of 80 plates printed on wove paper, a title leaf and one text leaf. Each leaf was attached to cloth and paper stubs along the spine edge. The stubs were folded and provided compensation along the spine. Interleaving had been added at every page; some was creased. The text block was sewn on four recessed cords, and the sewing was broken at the front of the volume. All edges of the text block were gilt. Endleaves consisted of marbled pastedowns and fly leaves with two endleaves attached.  The plates were in relatively sound condition with slight surface dirt in the margins. Ink from the images appeared to have transferred slightly to the versos of the preceding plates. Flyleaves had small tears at the edges, and were discolored and acidic. The title leaf, text leaf and the final plate were discolored as a result of contact with acidic endleaves. In addition to being discolored, Plate 80 was creased vertically through the image and at the head and tail corners along the spine edge. A bookplate was adhered to the front pastedown.

 

TREATMENT PERFORMED: Written and photographic documentation was provided. The volume was collated and disbound. The head, tail, and pages were surface cleaned where necessary. The inks were tested for solubility. The flyleaves and last plate were washed in filtered water and then alkalized (deacidified) with calcium hydroxide. Tears were mended, folds guarded and endleaves lined where necessary with Japanese kozo paper and wheat starch paste. Loose guards of Japanese paper were placed inside stubs. Buffered barrier sheets were inserted between each leaf. The volume was sewn on linen tapes with linen thread. The original endbands were washed and reattached to the binding. The binding was repaired by rebacking using airplane cotton and Japanese paper colored with acrylic pigment. The front top corner was reinforced. The volume was housed in a custom phase box.