Some Old Friends

I went down to Chichester yesterday where I met up with a couple of old friends from West Dean. One has recently set himself up as a book and paper conservator specializing in 18th century maps, which he is repairing, flattening and colouring in. This contrasts to the philosophy at Libre Livre where we firmly believe in minimal intervention.

My other friend has recently come across some family papers dating from 1840 onwards which are in need of conservation, and de-acidification. "Of course" he said to me "they are of no value, but....". At Libre Livre, however, we recognise that all the documents we work on are of great value to our customers and their personal heritage.

Lets Preserve Conservation Resources

So, the Textile Conservation Centre at Southampton University is to close. What a retrograde step - we deplore it. The Centre worked closely with West Dean College where I trained in book conservation sharing, for example, a course on the Conservation of Leather.

Conservation training is important for preserving our cultural legacy. Once an item has been ruined there is no way it can be replaced. What a tragedy that the country's resources are channeled towards paying sir Fred Goodwin's distended pension rather than training young people and giving them worthwhile careers.

A Busman's Holiday

Anybody who thinks the Libre Livre team's idea of a good break is a few days with never a tome in sight could not be more wrong - we are almost always spend holidays checking out the local book shops, especially second-hand ones.

Yesterday I picked up a very interesting book "Leathe Dressing, Dyeing and Finishing" by D Woodroffe for less than the price of a pint of beer. It is a very thorough explanation of different tanning, and curing techniques and then outlines alternatives for dyeing and coating.

A particular favourite of mine is alum-tawed "leather" (strictly speaking one should speak of an alum-tawed skin as it does not undergo the tanning process needed for leather proper). This wonderful creamy hyde has a distinctive slghtly sharp smell which I find rather attractive, but more imprtantly it has wonderful supplety and resiliance. Books bound in alum-tawed skin as many were until around 1450 are often still in superlative condition showing no signs of cracking or broken joints so common in later bindings. It is not easy to get hold of, or cheap, but is still available and is used, amongst other purposes, for long lasting conservation bindings.

Happy Easter

Happy Easter to all our readers.

Lino Print

At Libre Livre we are interested in all sorts of prints and print making. sorting through some old family papers recently I came across this picture, which I think is a lino print made by my mother, Pauline Colwell.

There were several other drawings and skethces she had made, which I will be uploading over future days.

I hope you enjoy them.