The Royal Library National Library and Copenhagen University

The Royal Library National Library and Copenhagen University Library Denmark

CONSERVATION and RE-BINDING of Zoroastrian manuscript T 54. The Royal Library Dept. of Preservation 2011 Photographs by Karsten Bundgaard.

T 54 Description of the conservation and rebinding of the manuscript T 54, of the first Dastur Meherjirana library, Navsari, India. The work has been executed at the Dept. of Conservation at the Royal Library in Copenhagen, Denmark, during the period 20082011.

The first Dastur Meherjirana library, Navsari, India

The Royal Library, Copenhagen, Denmark The workshop at the Royal Library is situated in this building and the whole conservation process was conducted here. The main building of the library, ’the Black Diamond’ , where the Avestan manuscripts are kept.

The oldest part of the library built in 1906 from the garden side. The old catalogue room and researchers desks.

The process of treatment. The manuscript had been fumigated in India. To get rid of the chemical odors the manuscripts were kept in fume hood for 6 weeks. The old binding is still in place.

The pages of T 54 are meticulously separated from each other. Old damage from insects have stuck the pages together.

Removing the old sewing structure from T 54.

The manuscript is taken apart and the old binding stripped off.

The old binding in light brown leather was heavily deteriorated and it was decided to remove it and make a new binding. The old binding, front and spine. After stripping the inside of the binding seen to the right.

The joints had to be reinforced to create a basis for the sewing and rebinding.

T 54, two pages before treatment The paper was damaged by insects, as seen on the enlarged detail.

T 54, two pages after treatment. The insect holes were filled in with tissue thin paper.

T 54 before treatment.

T 54 after treatment.

The loose guards are sewn on to the original manuscript quires.

When the sewing on tapes is finished the tape are positioned before glueing the back.

The end bands are made by hand sewn with linen thread on a thin piece of linen cord and a piece of tape to reinforce the structure.

The edges of the calf skin for the binding are pared in order to create a smooth surfaces at the inside cover.

Further preparation of the leather cover. Precision paring with a hand knife makes it possible to make the edges thin enough for a gathering which is as discrete as possible.

Finishing at the joints. The paring is done with a small and very sharp knife and then sandpapered to the required thickness.

T 54 ready to be covered. The original quires have been sewn to loose guards in order to prevent the fragile old paper from adhesive, and to create a sufficient opening for the ms.

Gilding the title of T 54 on the spine in a gilding press. The folio is pure 22 carat gold in order to prevent tarnishing or oxidation.

To finish the decoration of the cover traditional Zoroastrian patterns and symbols were blind tooled on spine and boards. The press is used with clichés made of brass. This creates a detailed and deep imprint in the leather.

The brass cliché for the Afarganyu, the Fire Vase. Note the clarity of the impression on the leather cover.

Constructing the inner part of the box for the manuscript T 54.

The book box for T 54 under construction. The box is lined with cotton flannel, the spine is covered in the same leather as the ms. and the lid and sides dressed with a book binders cloth in a matching red colour.

From left to right: Conservators Inger Hoby and Hanne Karin Sørensen, bookbinder Hanna Munch Christensen.

T 54 before restoration and rebinding.

The final result.