The Decoration of Leather / From the French of Georges de Récy

by Georges de Récy

“This Committee met for the first time on May 3, 1900.... Its first step was to appoint two Sub-Committees from amongst its members. The first of these was to visit a selected number of libraries, and to ascertain the comparative durability of the various bookbinding leathers used at different periods and preserved under different conditions.... The second ... was appointed to deal with the scientific side of the matter, to ascertain the cause of any deterioration noticed, and, if possible, to suggest methods for its prevention in the future....

“The first step taken by the (first) Sub-Committee was to visit a number of libraries, including that of the British Museum, the Bodleian Library, Oxford, the University Library, Cambridge, the libraries of the Athenæum Club, of the Patent Office and of the Chemical Society, also the valuable private library of Mr. Huth....

“As regards the common belief that modern binding leather does decay prematurely, the Sub-Committee satisfied themselves that books bound during the last eighty or hundred years showed far greater evidence of deterioration than those of an earlier date. Many recent bindings showed evidence of decay after so short a period as ten, or even five years. The Sub-Committee came to the conclusion that there is ample justification for the general complaint that modern leather is not so durable as that formerly used. To fix the date of the commencement of this deterioration was a difficult matter; but they came to the conclusion that while leather

of all periods showed some signs of decay, the deterioration becomes more general on books bound after 1830, while some leathers seem to be generally good until about 1860, after which date nearly all leathers seem to get worse. The deterioration of calf bindings at the latter end of the nineteenth century may be attributed as much to the excessive thinness as to the poor quality of the material.

“With regard to the conditions under which books are kept, ventilation, lighting, heating, etc., the Committee were satisfied that in libraries where there was no artificial light used, and where the ventilation was good, the bindings were generally in a better state than elsewhere. Where gas is used the bindings are in the worst state noticed, especially on the higher shelves.... Daylight and still more direct sunlight, has a disintegrating effect on leather....

“As to the suitability of various leathers, the Sub-Committee came to the conclusion that of the old leathers (fifteenth and sixteenth century), white pigskin, probably alum tanned, is the most durable, but its excessive hardness and want of flexibility renders this leather unsuitable for most modern work. Old brown calf has lasted fairly well, but loses its flexibility, and becomes stiff and brittle when exposed to light and air. Some of the white tawed skins of the fifteenth and sixteenth century, other than white pigskin, and probably deerskin, have lasted very well. Some fifteenth and sixteenth century sheepskin bindings have remained soft and flexible, but the surface is soft and usually much damaged by friction. Vellum seems to have lasted fairly well, but is easily influenced by atmospheric changes, and is much affected by light. Early specimens of red morocco from the sixteenth to the end of the eighteenth century were found in good condition, and of all the leathers noticed, this seems to be the least affected by the various conditions to which it had been subjected. In the opinion of the Committee, most of this leather has been tanned with sumach or some closely allied tanning material. Morocco bindings earlier than 1860 were generally found to be in fairly good condition, but morocco after that date seems to be much less reliable, and in many cases has become utterly rotten. During the latter part of the eighteenth century it became customary to pare down calf until it was as thin as paper. Since about 1830 hardly any really sound calf seems

to have been used, as, whether thick or thin, it appears generally to have perished. Sheepskin bindings of the early part of the century are many of them still in good condition. Since about 1860 sheepskin as sheepskin is hardly to be found. Sheepskins are grained in imitation of other leathers and these imitation-grained leathers are generally found to be in a worse condition than any of the other bindings, except, perhaps, some of the very thin calf skin. Undyed modern pigskin seems to last well, but some coloured pigskin bindings had entirely perished. Modern leathers dyed with the aid of sulphuric acid are all to be condemned. In nearly every case Russia leather was found to have become rotten, at least in bindings of the last fifty years....

“The work of the second Sub-Committee, which was composed of chemists specially conversant with the treatment of leather, was directed specially to the elucidation of the following points; an investigation of the nature of the decay of leather used for bookbinding; an examination of the causes which produced this decay; a research into the best methods of preparing leather for bookbinding; and a consideration of the points required to be dealt with in the preservation of books....

“The Sub-Committee made a number of tests and analyses of samples of decayed leather bookbindings, as well as of leathers used for binding. The Committee found that the most prevalent decay was what they termed a red decay, and this they think may be differentiated into old and new, the old red decay being noticeable up to about 1830, and the new decay since that date. In the old decay the leather becomes hard and brittle, the surface not being easily abraded by friction. The older form is specially noticed in calf-bound books, tanned presumably with oak bark. The new form affects nearly all leathers, and, in extreme cases, seems absolutely to destroy the fibres. Another form of deterioration, more noticeable in the newer books, renders the grain of the leather liable to peel off when exposed to the slightest friction. This is the most common form of decay noted in the most recent leathers. In nearly all samples of Russia leather, a very violent form of red decay was noticed. In many cases the leather was found to be absolutely rotten in all parts exposed to light and air....

“An extensive series of experiments was carried out with a