The bindery was set up in 1997 by Peter Spain in the Woodford Green area of London.
One of our first clients was the Getty Archive with whom we have been working ever since on a wide range of material from their extensive holdings.
Over the years, we have also been called in for conservation projects at St.Paul’s Cathedral Library, Guildhall Library, National Portrait Gallery, R.H.S. Linley Library and Coutts Bank.
In addition, we have been running book conservation and repair classes for over 10 years at City lit in Covent Garden.
We specialise in the conservation and restoration of all types of antiquarian material from the entire hand-press period.
Ranging from the complete restoration and re-binding of medieval tomes through to simple cloth rebacks and paper repairs, we are fully equipped to deal with all aspects or repair, restoration and conservation of books, photographic materials and flat works on paper.
Restoration
A careful analysis of the individual problems presented by each book is followed by an assessment of the minimum intervention required to preserve as much existing material as is appropriate to the integrity and functioning of the individual volume, and to retain its original character.
We work extensively with libraries, institutions and private collectors to ensure that books of both national and personal importance can continue to be read and appreciated into the future.
The successful repair and restoration of antiquarian volumes requires a sound technical grounding in traditional hand bookbinding skills, together with an extensive knowledge of the structures and materials used.
All the work is hand-crafted using traditional techniques and equipment with the appropriate use of archival and conservation grade materials.
Conservation
After a full consultation regarding the condition of the object and the aims of the treatment, only archivally-sound techniques and materials are used in subsequent procedures.
We use a variety of techniques including:
| Dry cleaning | Re-sizing |
| Aqueous treatments | In-filling |
| De-acidification | Lining |
Book-binding
Commissions include celebration albums, address books, theses etc. All types of facsimile rebinding to style undertaken
The bindery was set up in 1997 by Peter Spain in the Woodford Green area of London.
One of our first clients was the Getty Archive with whom we have been working ever since on a wide range of material from their extensive holdings.
Over the years, we have also been called in for conservation projects at St.Paul’s Cathedral Library, Guildhall Library, National Portrait Gallery, R.H.S. Linley Library and Coutts Bank.
In addition, we have been running book conservation and repair classes for over 10 years at City lit in Covent Garden.
We specialise in the conservation and restoration of all types of antiquarian material from the entire hand-press period.
Ranging from the complete restoration and re-binding of medieval tomes through to simple cloth rebacks and paper repairs, we are fully equipped to deal with all aspects or repair, restoration and conservation of books, photographic materials and flat works on paper.
Restoration
A careful analysis of the individual problems presented by each book is followed by an assessment of the minimum intervention required to preserve as much existing material as is appropriate to the integrity and functioning of the individual volume, and to retain its original character.
We work extensively with libraries, institutions and private collectors to ensure that books of both national and personal importance can continue to be read and appreciated into the future.
The successful repair and restoration of antiquarian volumes requires a sound technical grounding in traditional hand bookbinding skills, together with an extensive knowledge of the structures and materials used.
All the work is hand-crafted using traditional techniques and equipment with the appropriate use of archival and conservation grade materials.
Conservation
After a full consultation regarding the condition of the object and the aims of the treatment, only archivally-sound techniques and materials are used in subsequent procedures.
We use a variety of techniques including:
| Dry cleaning |
| Aqueous treatments |
| De-acidification |
| Re-sizing |
| In-filling |
| Lining |
Book-binding
Commissions include celebration albums, address books, theses etc. All types of facsimile rebinding to style undertaken