CONSERVATION: ENDSHEET REPLACEMENT.
When an item is recased, its endsheets are normally replaced. Exceptions are made when the original endsheets either lift easily without damage, or when they are of an unusually artistic or informative nature.
SCOPE
These procedures apply to general collections materials routed through the Conservation Unit. Special Collections materials, unusual or informative endsheets and pre 1850 imprints are handled under separate procedures.
PROCEDURE
- Remove textblock from case. This is best accomplished by cutting the endsheet and super at the hinge between the text block and the cover of the book. Be careful not to cut into the spine of the cover or the textblock.
- Clean spine.
- Remove old endsheets from both the cover and the textblock. The flyleaves (the free part of the endsheets attached to the text block) should be carefully torn off the textblock so minimal damage is done to the outside pages and binding of the block. The paste-downs (the part of the endsheet glued to the cover) can be removed by lifting up the remenant of the super and pulling away from the spine. It is not necessary to remove all of the pastedown, but all of the super should be taken and any part of the endsheet left should have feathered tears with no sharp edges. Bookplates and other significant markings should try to be removed.
- Repair and tip on any loose pages.
- Cut a new endsheet from archival quality endsheet paper. It should be slightly taller and slightly wider than the text block WHEN FOLDED IN TWO. The fold should be parallel to the grain so that the grain will be parallel to the spine of the text block when the endsheet is attached (see diagrams below).
- The folded edge of the endsheet will be glued to the shoulder of the textblock. If the shoulder of the text block is high, it may be helpful to bend the folded edge of the endsheet around a straight-edge to help it fit better.
- Place the folded endsheet flat on a piece of scrap paper.
- Place a straight cut piece of scrap paper on top of the endsheet to expose about an eigth of an inch strip of the endsheet along its folded edge.
- Apply a thin layer of PVA to the exposed strip.
- Remove scrap paper and press the glued strip of endsheet on one of the shoulders of the text block, the folded edge even with the spine.
- Place text block down on cutting mat, new endsheet on bottom. With a straight-edge, trim away excess endsheet to make the new endsheet the same size as the text block.
- Perform steps 2-7 for the other endsheet.
