Book conservation: The Eikon Basilike

Study of this book can tell us much about its origins

Conserving the book

      The conservation process:

      The text-block of the book was separated from the leather covering. The pages of the book were re-sewn on cords, replacing the old, weak structure.
      Sections of endpapers were added to each end of the text-block to support the action of opening the book and to compensate for the inclusion of the ribbons in the boards.
      At this stage, the spine was lined with handmade paper then covered with leather. The edges of this new leather were inserted into the existing leather on the book’s boards and the old spine was stuck on top of the new spine.
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      Official Royal Residences

      Royal Collection Trust is a charity caring for the Royal Collection, one of the world’s great art collections. Income from your visit helps us to conserve and share the Collection so that it can be enjoyed by everyone, wherever they are.