This treatment was part of an ongoing project to stabilize a series of disbound manuscripts with severe iron gall ink deterioration. The object consisted of 49 bifolia and 8 leaves of handmade, laid paper comprising 15 sections of a disbound manuscript with brown ink. The Talmud (Hebrew for “study”) is a textual record of rabbinic debate over law, religious interpretation, and philosophy. Hidushim or novellae were intense discussions of the Talmud or other Rabbinic literature. This treatment protocol was developed with the primary intention of stabilizing the object enough for handling and eventual rebinding.

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Treatment Overview

• Each sheet was washed in calcium phytate in 50:50 water and ethanol to reduce unstable iron (II) ions

• Each sheet was washed in a calcium bicarbonate and ethanol 75:25 bath to reduce soluble acids

• The pages were re-sized overall with a dilute 1-2% gelatin solution and lined on both sides with a very thin mulberry paper

• Losses, splits, tenting, and tears were bridged and repaired with mulberry paper and wheat starch paste

• The pages were refolded into their original gatherings