Category: book conservation

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FAIC Oral History Interview Project

The FAIC (Foundation of the American Institute for Conservation) oral history interview project is a little-known resource documenting the carreers of individual conservators; almost 400 have been interviewed since the 1970s. More information about the history of the project and how to access the transcriptions  here.

The interviews often provide revealing insights into their lives, education, work history, and observations concerning the current state of conservation. Book conservators interviewed include Paul Banks, Tony Cains, Jim Canary, Chris Clarkson, Deborah Evetts, Peter Waters, and most recently, me.  I’m unaccustomed to such illustrious company!

It was a lot of fun to be intensely interviewed for over two hours, think about my own history, and about the massive changes in book conservation that have occurred during the past 30 years. If this topic interests you, also check out “Outside of the Text: My Work in Book Conservation” and “A Future for Book Conservation at the End of the Mechanical Age“

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Calf, sheep, goat, or pig. And deerskin?

deer
An advertisement on the back cover of  “A Treatise on internal navigation.” Ballston Spa [N.Y.]: : Printed by U.F. Doubleday., 1817. Image courtesy The Library Company of Philadelphia.
Calf, sheep, goat or pig. It seems 99.9% of leather books are made with one of these these. But other types of leather are always a possibility. For example, deerskin was commercially available for bookbinders in the early 19th century North America. The above advertisement, from D.K. Van Veghten, implies it is a new innovation he is introducing to the market. Given the large numbers of deer — even now — I wonder if this it was all that new. After all,  muskrat or beaver are  not unheard of in the 18th century. It is best not to become blasé with leather identification.

Below is a vegetable tanned deerskin, with two bullet holes. It was shot by my Grandfather between 1946 – 1954, and he had it vegetable tanned. He also had a couple of heads mounted on the wall of his living room.  Deerskin is softer and stretchier than sheepskin, and the grain is more pronounced in this example. Because of the stretch, it is difficult to pare, even with the best paring knife in the world. Possibly different vegetable tanning methods would have made it look more like calf. Most of the examples I’ve seen on books are very similar to calf, and a delaminating grain layer is often a clue that it is in fact sheep. D.K. Van Veghten’s advertisment also mentions it is quite similar to calf, but 25% cheaper.

I don’t think of the deer when I look at the deerskin below, but of my Grandfather. The bond between things and memories is strong. I can’t bring myself to use this partial skin. The familiar curse of a precious material; it’s too nice to use. So it languishes, only to be written about.

Sample of tanned deerskin shot by my Grandfather. Note the two bullet holes.

 

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Microfiber. Horsebutt. Bluefin Tuna. Poinsettia.

 

Nothing quite sums up the Holiday season for me like a poinsettia and hunks of raw blue fin tuna. Stressed? Too much to do before the end of the year? Feeling overwhelmed? Me too. I coped yesterday by playing hooky and indulging in arguably the best chirashi deal in Manhattan at Yuba for $15. Yuba was founded by a couple of ex-Masa employees: $15 there would get you exactly 11 grains of rice.

Other coping mechanisms include buying stuff.

 

The Peachey Branded Microfiber Towels are in stock! A great stocking stuffer, or you could even make a stocking out of it. I made to logo by having a steel stamp made from my handwriting, then stamped it onto a piece of horsebutt, then had it dye sublimation printed onto the towel. Genuine Horsebutt Strops are always popular.

To be safe, order soon, although the post office estimates December 17 as the deadline.