Collection Care blog

Following part 1 of the Conservation of Maps in the digitisation project: Qatar Foundation Partnership, this second blog post will present the treatments of two maps belonging to the IOR collection of the British Library: IOR/X/10065 and IOR/X/10066. Similar to the maps presented in the first blog post, these maps also have cloth as a secondary support. In these cases, the maps were fragmented and lined on a cloth support which allowed them to be folded (picture 1 & 2). A difference with the first group of maps is that they did not have textile or silk ribbons on the edges.

Picture 1: IOR/X/10065 recto before treatment

Picture 2: Detail of the joints (cloth) that allow the folds of IOR/X/10065

These two items had the same main damage. The substrate, a paper lined with cloth, was broken or weakened in various areas of the joints where the maps used to be folded (picture 3 & 4).

Picture 3: Upper part of the IOR/X/10066 recto before treatment

Picture 4: Detail of IOR/X/10065 with broken joints

The paper support on the IOR/X/10066 map is thicker and distorted, with the distortions possibly caused by its large format and the broken joins no longer creating tension (picture 5). On both maps, there were small paper tears and folds around the edges. There were also loose threads due to the fraying of the cloth along the edges (picture 6). The condition of both maps made handling and digitisation very difficult, especially due to their oversize format, IOR/X/10065 measuring 1014x750 mm and IOR/X/10066 1235x1073 mm.

Picture 5: Upper part of the IOR/X/10066 verso before treatment

Picture 6: Detail of IOR/X/10065 fraying

Decision making

The aim of the conservation treatment was to stabilise the items to function in their current role and to ease handling for the next stages of the workflow: cataloguing and digitisation.

For the decision-making process we considered the condition of the maps and their original use, to be folded and unfolded many times when used. In addition, minimal intervention, re-treatability and fit-for-purpose, principles from our guidelines, were taken into account, as well as the 5 hours limit for the treatment of each item.

Selecting and preparing materials for treatment

Our treatment proposal was then focused on re-establishing the ability to fold the maps which is convenient for handling and storage. We decided on using a cloth lined with Japanese tissue for the joint repairs, similar to the construction of the maps.

Selection of the cloth

A thick Japanese tissue would not be enough to repair areas that are to be folded multiple times. We decided on Aerocotton, a material commonly used by book conservators to reinforce book joints which is a light but strong cloth. The cloth was washed with hot tap water before its use to remove any possible sizing and additives.

Selection of the Japanese tissue

We chose an 11g/m² Japanese tissue with kozo fibers, which is strong and thick enough to give support to the cloth and the tear repairs.

Lining the Aerocotton

Aerocotton is difficult to cut after washing, (see picture 7). Therefore, it was lined using Japanese tissue and wheat starch paste (WSP). This helps to stiffen the Aerocotton, with the Japanese tissue working as a support to make it easier to handle and to limit frayed edges. The cloth lined with the paper was left to dry on a wooden board similar to a karibari, to ensure it dried with tension (picture 7).

Picture 7: On the left Aerocotton dried after washing and on the right lined Aerocotton with Japanese tissue

A second lining of Japanese tissue (11g/m² with kozo fibers) was pasted to the lined cloth strips, since it reinforced the repairs without adding any thickness. This was carried out again on a wooden board. A plastic strip was placed between the board and the strip. This would function as a barrier and prevent a section of Japanese tissue strips adhering on the board. This way, our second lining dried stretched on the board as it protruded from the plastic strip like it would on a karibari, (video 1).

Video 1: Preparing and applying the second lining of Japanese tissue on the lined cloth strips

Once the Japanese tissue was dry, we lifted them from the karibari with a bamboo spatula. The plastic strips delimited the area that we used to paste on the map. Finally, we cut them with a water brush so that the edges had a water-cut finish: this gave a stronger attachment to the tear repairs when pasted on the maps, (pictures 8 and 9).

Picture 8: Cutting the edges with a water brush

Picture 9: Close-up of the prepared strips

Treatment

Once the materials were ready, we placed the maps on a blotter and Bondina, verso facing up. Because the maps were of a large format, we treated each half separately. Once they were dry, we reattached them together.

For both maps we squared and positioned the fragments of the maps carefully, leaving 3mm space gap for the joints, and kept them in place under weights. Wheat starch paste was applied with a noribake to the prepared strips previously placed on plastic strip. This made the handling easier and the application on the joint to be repaired. Once the strip was on the map, we applied some pressure with a shirobake over the plastic strip. The plastic strip was then removed, leaving the prepared strip on the map and we applied more pressure with a nadebake and with a Teflon spatula. It was left to dry with a Bondina, blotter and weights on top, (video 2 and picture 10).

Video 2: Pasting the prepared strips on the tears of IOR/X/10066

Finally, strips of Japanese tissue (7.3g/m² with kozo fibers) were applied on the joints of the recto of the maps to reinforce the hinge on both sides of the map, (picture 11).

Picture 10: Detail of the Aerocotton lined with Japanese tissue applied into the verso of IOR/X/10065 to mend the tears

Picture 11: Detail of the Japanese strips applied on the same map

Results

This treatment was successful on both maps. They can now be handled and stored safely. See video 3 and after treatment pictures 12 and 13.

Video 3: Handling both maps after treatment

Picture 12: IOR/X/10065 recto after treatment

Picture 13: IOR/X/10065 verso after treatment

Picture 14: Upper part of IOR/X/10066 recto after treatment

Picture 15: Upper part of IOR/X/10066 verso after treatment

Tania Estrada Valadez and Camille Dekeyser

The British Library Qatar Foundation Partnership (BLQFP) is a digitisation project that began in 2012 to create the Qatar Digital Library (QDL). For over ten years this free bilingual online portal has been fed from the British Library´s collections related to the history of the Persia Gulf and scientific manuscripts of the Arabic-speaking world. The items that are selected and digitised include India Office Records, maps, personal papers, catalogued and uncatalogued Arabic manuscripts, sound and video recordings, photographs and much more.

At the beginning of 2022, in the last part of Phase 3, 120 maps entered the digitisation workflow. One of the first stages of the workflow is conservation assessment, where items are assessed and stabilised for safe digitisation and handling. The majority of the maps needed minimal intervention, with only 5 needing a more interventive conservation approach. This blog will focus on the treatment of the following maps: IOR/X/3174, IOR/X/3150/2, IOR/X/9921, IOR/X/10065 and IOR/X/10066.

In order to organise our treatments, we divided the maps into 2 groups according to their similarity in manufacture, their condition and treatment strategy. The first group, which is the focus of the first part of this blog, included IOR/X/3174, IOR/X/3150/2, IOR/X/9921, and had a silk ribbon sewn on the edges of each map. The silk ribbon was placed to protect and give a nice finish to the edge of the maps, since all 3 have cloth as a backing support. We think this was placed because either the paper is too big, or small pieces of paper have been attached together, so the secondary support would give the primary paper support extra protection and ease handling. The silk ribbon protects the edge of the maps and helps to stop the fraying of the textile. We talked to the map’s curator from the Qatar team, Nick Krebs, and he mentioned the possibility that these ribbons were placed when the maps were at the India Office Records.

IOR/X/3174 recto before treatment

IOR/X/3174 verso before treatment

On these 3 maps the silk ribbon was detached from the edges in some places, due to a broken thread that used to attach the ribbon to the map. Also, the ribbon was very thin and fraying, causing further losses. Apart from this, the general condition of the maps was good.

Detail of the condition of the silk ribbon of IOR/X/3174

Detail of the condition of IOR/X/3150/2

As paper and book conservators unfamiliar with the treatment of textiles, we took this opportunity to seek advice from the appointed textile conservator at the British Library, Liz Rose. This had the advantage of providing a moisture and solvent free application technique to the damaged silk ribbon, which can be easily damaged by the introduction of moisture. Liz Rose showed us how to prepare the adhesive on crepeline silk and nylon net in the following way:

The adhesive used was a mix 1:1 of two different Lascauxs: 408 HV and 303 HV. The first one dries hard, while the second is extremely elastic and dries tacky. Both are thermoplastic acrylics (AIC - Adhesives & Tapes, 2022), therefore a combination of these two is ideal for reactivating the adhesive with a hot spatula or with solvent (like acetone) to consolidate fragile textiles, depending on the condition of the item.

We prepared two different percentages of the 1:1 adhesive mix, 15% and 25%, to test which of the two had better results on a new silk ribbon. When we had the adhesive ready, this was applied with a brush to a crepeline silk and nylon net, provided by Liz Rose. Fortunately, the crepeline silk and nylon net were already dyed in different tones of green and we only needed to choose the best tone to suit the different ribbons.

Choosing the best tone of crepeline silk

Applying the adhesive to the chosen crepeline silk and nylon net

Once the adhesive applied to the crepeline silk and nylon net had dried, it was cut to the desired size and heated with a hot spatula to mend the damaged parts of the silk ribbon. As mentioned before, we first tested it on a new ribbon and over cotton textile. From these tests, we determined the best percentage of adhesive to use was 15%, and the appropriate length of time to reactivate the adhesive was 1 minute. We observed in this test that the nylon net melted with both the new ribbon and cotton fabric if heated for too long and if the spatula was too hot. Also, we realized that the nylon net consolidation did not have good results when the consolidation needed to be folded back, due to the fact that some of these maps are oversized and folded multiple times. This was not the case with the silk crepeline, therefore we decided to use this, because we had better results with it being a more sympathetic material with the silk ribbon, and giving us the most satisfying visual result.

Tests over new silk ribbon and cotton textile

Tests over new silk ribbon and cotton textile

Treatment on the maps: IOR/X/3174, IOR/X/3150/2, IOR/X/9921

After completing tests on the silk samples, we dry cleaned the recto and verso of the maps and then the most damaged sections of silk ribbons were delicately removed from the maps by cutting the sewing stitches. Next, we consolidated the bond between the paper and the lining cloth using Japanese tissue and wheat starch paste.

Consolidation of the maps supports: paper and linen - before

Consolidation of the maps supports: paper and linen - after

We then applied the pre-coated crepeline silk to the inside of the ribbon using a hot spatula to consolidate the fragile segments. The width of the crepeline consolidation was cut to fit in between the edges of the ribbon and its length was cut into small sections (no longer than 7 cm). We noticed that longer repair creates distortion. The crepeline segments were overlapped by 1 mm when it was necessary to cover a longer part.

Before consolidation of the damaged silk with the prepared precoated heat-set on crepeline silk

After consolidation of the damaged silk with the prepared precoated heat-set on crepeline silk

A close up after consolidation.

In some cases, where the ribbon was particularly damaged, we also needed to consolidate the outside of the ribbon. This helped to further reinforce the zones where the ribbon was completely broken and the zones where the ribbon was folded as the map had been stored in this way.

As the ribbon was attached to the map folded, we applied the crepeline on the outer part on a folded ribbon. The pre-coated crepeline was folded and fitted over the original folded ribbon and then applied with the hot spatula one side at a time.

Silk crepeline applied on the outside of the silk ribbon

After consolidating the damaged ribbon, we then re-attached the consolidated ribbons onto the maps by sewing them back in place using a green silk thread, similar to the original.

Re-sewing the ribbon

The ribbon sewn back on.

Finally, after documenting the treatment, the smaller maps (that fit flat in the storage drawer) were placed in a Melinex sleeve to protect them from frictions and limit direct handling. The oversized maps were placed in a blue folder to protect them from friction in the storage.

IOR/X/3174 recto after treatment

IOR/X/3174 verso after treatment

Stay tuned for Part 2!

Camille Dekeyser and Tania Estrada-Valadez

Mounting one of the largest maps in the exhibition.

In a few days the Maps and the 20th Century: Drawing the Line exhibition will open in the main exhibition area in the British Library. The preparation for this exhibition started well in advance and involved several departments within the British Library. As a conservator and project manager for this exhibition I worked closely together with the exhibitions department and curator.

The exhibition department conveys the wishes of the exhibition designers to the conservation department and together we discuss the possibilities of making that happen whilst ensuring the physical condition of the object remains unchanged throughout the whole process. At an early stage we evaluate each item together and discuss possibilities and potential practical issues. This includes assessing whether or not items need conservation treatment prior to mounting, what type of mount and what type of frame the exhibition designers have requested and will it be suitable for the item. If the object does need more than minor treatment before mounting and framing then that is further discussed with the curator.

There are many ways of mounting and framing. Museum standard conservation mounting and framing puts the best practice conservation principle of using methods that do not damage the object or speed up the degradation process in any way first. What little adhesive we do use is reversible and the different types of mount board are all acid-free archival quality boards. The works of art on paper are attached with different types of hinges made of Japanese paper and wheat starch paste. Self-adhesive tapes are never used in direct contact with any paper object, no exceptions. It is however used to attach different layers of mount board together to create a more rigid backing or when attaching the fillets to the inside of the frame to provide distance between map and Perspex. When possible we use non-adhesive solutions, such as photo corners made out of inert and transparent polyester sheeting.

An example of two postcards mounted for this exhibition with handmade polyester photo-corners inside a window mount allowing the edges of the object to be visible.

A close-up of polyester photo corners on one of the postcards.

Three commonly used methods are; a ‘window mount’ where the object is hinged to the backboard and the edges of the object are overlapped by the window mount. A second option is a ‘float mount’ with regular V-shaped hinges made of varying types of Japanese tissue in combination with fillets to create distance between object and Perspex. Distance between the two is necessary to prevent potential adhesion of media to Perspex. The type of Japanese paper chosen is based on weight, thickness and relative transparency of the paper substrate. A third option is a slot mount which will allow the hinges to be slid through incisions in the back board. This option is favoured for heavier objects and/or undulating objects. Depending on the needs of the object these methods are combined and adjusted in a variety of ways.

Several mounted maps ready to be framed.

There is a difference between temporary framing and (semi-)permanent framing. While the same best practice principles apply to both, mounting and framing an item for potentially decades, as opposed to 3-6 months, requires a different approach with different materials. For instance using any self-adhesive materials is usually the weakest link in any long-term solution. However for an item that will be exhibited for less than 6 months, the use of self-adhesive tapes can be an effective time-saving option.

Conservation grade self-adhesive tapes are a reliable and useful material because they will not degrade significantly within six months. Using tapes also reduces the time required to remove items from frames and mounts as opposed to a conservation quality adhesive such as EVA, which makes it a desirable option for shorter exhibitions.

For permanent framing other factors become relevant. For instance the bare wood on the inside of the frame might off-gas and cause the paper to discolour over long periods of time. This might not happen with modern frames in combination with temporary framing methods, but it could potentially happen when works of art on paper are exhibited or stored in frames indefinitely. To prevent this, a barrier is created by applying a layer of inert material between wood and the mounted object.

The same idea applies to light sensitivity of media on works of art on paper. Longer exposure means a larger risk of fading or discolouration of the media and/or paper substrate over time. Our preventive conservators work with the exhibition department to establish the best compromise between causing the object the least potential damage whilst making sure there is sufficient visibility for visitors to be able to fully appreciate the objects.

However with (semi-)permanent exhibitions the amount of light accumulates over the years, increasing the risk of damage. One way to alleviate this risk is to invest in a type of Perspex that is not only anti-static, low reflectance, low scratch, light weight, but also 99% UV filtering. High quality conservation glass that is low reflectance, shatter proof and 99% plus UV filtering certainly does exist, but apart from being costly the sheer size of the maps in this particular exhibition exclude the option of glass due to weight.

Lizzie Martindale framing one of the maps for the exhibition.

Almost all of the maps for this exhibition were mounted and framed exclusively for the four month exhibition that opens on 4 November 2016, but there are a few that were framed for permanent housing. After the exhibition ends on 1 March 2017, these objects will return to storage in their current frames. This was done at the request of the curator who expects these items to be requested for loans and other exhibitions in the future. One example of that is My Ghost 2000-2016 by Jeremy Wood¹ (see picture) which was slot mounted onto white mount board with Japanese Paper hinges and wheat starch paste and further adhered to two sheets of cross-lined conservation quality corrugated board with EVA adhesive to make a more rigid mount. The inside of the wooden frame was covered with a barrier layer and the fillets were adhered to the inside of the frame with reversible EVA adhesive.

Frame in front has barrier and fillets adhered to inside of the frame and is ready for the map. Frame in the background shows fillet drying with weights keeping them in place.

Mounted object ready to be framed. 

¹ My Ghost 2000-2016 by Jeremy Wood (Maps CC.6.a.83)
From the 1990s Global Positioning Systems (GPS) technology became increasingly available to civilian use, most prominently in car navigation. Artists also came to appreciate the use of GPS for capturing, commemorating and commenting upon patterns of existence. Jeremy Wood pioneered drawing with GPS, using a receiver to track his movements, using his body as a ‘geodesic pencil’. This print shows 16 years of Wood’s movement around Greater London, the white lines representing his movement by foot, bicycle and motorised transport, the yellow lines by aeroplane. Lines occasionally abruptly stop, reminding us that even digital mapping can occasionally fail.

The majority of maps for the Maps and the 20th Century: Drawing the Line exhibition where float mounted with V-shaped Japanese paper hinges onto white museum mount board to complement the white frames. The joy of conservation mounting and framing is that one often has to come up with creative solutions in the moment because a work of art on paper will have special requirements that make it impossible to use one of the standard methods. One example within this exhibition was Maps C.49.e.56, Post-War New World Map published in Philadelphia in 1942². This map has its own decorative and protective binding. The map could not be temporarily removed for the exhibition without causing damage to both volume and map so it was decided to incorporate the volume inside the mount so as not to have to separate the two.

Measuring the edges of the binding on to corrugated board.

²Author: Maurice Gomberg. Shows protectorates and peace-security bases. Title continues: As the U.S.A., with the cooperation of the democracies of Latin-America, the British Commonwealth of Nations and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, assumes world leadership for the establishment of a new world moral order for permanent peace, freedom, justice, security and world reconstruction.Citation/references note: The Wardington Library: important atlases & geographies, property of the late Lord Wardington and the Pease family.

The cut away was covered with self-adhesive tape with a paper backing to cover any sharp edges.

Making sure the binding fits; height and width as well as depth.

The corrugated board covered with double sided archival quality self-adhesive tape so that the next board layer can be attached efficiently (without drying time). None of the tapes used are in direct contact with any of the objects.

Layer of white museum mount board attached with self-adhesive tape to the corrugated board underneath.

Making sure the volume is secure within the multi-layered mount.

After unfolding the map the edges are adhered to the museum mount board using Japanese tissue V-hinges and wheat starch paste.

Within this exhibition many large maps were framed in standard frames, but there were four maps so large that a box frame was a better option. A box frame in this context is a frame built around the mounted object and attached directly to the wall. The maps were slot mounted onto corrugated mount board with a border of white Japanese paper to cover the edges underneath. The weight and undulation of these larger maps meant that it was needed to distribute the weight by not only using hinges around the edges but also dispersed integrally and to have one large hinge just above the middle. The hinges were attached to the back of the map with wheat starch paste. The hinges were slotted through and attached to the back of the corrugated board with EVA adhesive and a second cross-lined layer of corrugated was attached to the back for added support and rigidity. The benefit of this material, besides being of conservation quality, is that it is lightweight yet rigid and can be ordered in very large sizes. Finally the layer of white Japanese paper was adhered to the back of the corrugated with EVA adhesive.

The positions of the hinges are marked with an awl and incisions are made along the edges so the side hinges can be slotted through. But first the hinges dispersed along the back of the object are adhered to the corrugated mount board with wheat starch paste and left to dry under weights.

Seen from the opposite side.

Hinges were slotted through and adhered to the backboard. Larger hinge can be seen above middle.

Second layer of cross-lined corrugated board is adhered on top with EVA adhesive. The layer of white Japanese paper to cover the board edges is now ready to be wrapped around and adhered to the back of the corrugated board.

The finished mounted map is attached to the backboard using non-adhesive Perspex clips. Finally the frame is attached to the wall on top of it.

Working on this project and getting to see the exhibition take shape over the last few months has been very rewarding. I’d like to especially thank Janet Benoy, Mark Browne and Tom Harper for their support every step of the way and to Lizzie Martindale, Julia Wiland, Daisy Todd, Rick Brown, Jenny Snowdon and Gavin Moorhead a wholehearted thank you for helping with the mounting and framing.

Kim Mulder

Book now to visit Maps and the 20th Century: Drawing the Line.