We’re always honored to help preserve family heirlooms, and this treasured family Bible was a joy to watch transform. Our Rare Books Department has handled many Bibles in the past, and one of the most intriguing parts is learning about their histories.
The Bible before treatment.
Passed down through generations, the Bible exhibited age-related damage, including areas of damage at the spine's head and tail. The pages were in generally good condition, and there was a light layer of surface grime throughout.
The front of the Bible before treatment.
The back of the Bible before treatment.
Our conservators love a good challenge and got right to work on conserving this heirloom. First, the piece was photographed for in-house documentation. Then, the original leather covers and spine were retained and refurbished using appropriate conservation methods and materials. The existing fore-edge clasp was retained. The completed book was photographed after treatment, and ready to return to our client.
The front of the Bible after treatment.
The back of the Bible after treatment.
We’re excited that our client’s family can now enjoy this Bible, which originally belonged to their great grandmother. “My favorite story about her is that she saw Abraham Lincoln’s Inaugural Parade in 1865,” our client shared. “My guess is that she received the Bible after she was married - as her signature on the first page is her married name.” Now this important piece of family history will live on for years to come!
Before treatment.
After treatment.
