Leather dressing

My predecessor here initiated a programme some years ago of using
leather preservatives on the leather bindings in our rare book
collection. On the present schedule each book receives treatment
about once in five or six years.

We use Leather Protector first, British Museum formula, containing
potassium lactate and p-nitrophenol.  Then we use Leather Dressing,
N.Y. Public Library formula (Formula #6 in Carolyn Horton's manual)
containing lanolin and neatsfoot oil. Both products appear in
TALAS's catalogue.

Our supplies are getting low, and while I was thinking of placing
another order, I thought I would ask what the current opinion is of
these products, and the practice of using them.

Patricia L. Chalmers
Assistant Librarian (Collections)
University of King's College
Halifax, Nova Scotia  B3H 2A1
Canada
902-422-1271 ext. 174
Fax: 902-423-3357

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                  Conservation DistList Instance 10:21
                  Distributed: Friday, August 23, 1996
                       Message Id: cdl-10-21-012
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