Conservators study one of the large volumes

The rebinding of Audubon’s 'Birds of America'

The oversize volumes required a team of bookbinders

Taking the books apart

      Removing spine leather
      Removing spineCopyright: Royal Collection Enterprises Limited

      Each of the volumes was taken apart. The boards were detached, then the spine coverings removed.

      The decorated and protective pages at each end of the book (endpapers) were taken out and retained for re-use.

      The marbled paper pastedowns were soaked off the inside of the boards and kept.

       

       

       

       

       

       

      Removing the spine

      Board removal
      Detaching board by cutting through cords
      Cleaning spine
      Removing old adhesive
      Removing spine lining
      Removing old adhesive
      PreviousNext

      Quick Links

      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.