Literature

Early European Papers/Contemporary Conservation Papers: A Report on Research Undertaken from Fall 1984 through Fall 1987, by Timothy D. Barrett. Published as Vol. 13 of The Paper Conservator, 1989. 107 pp. Single issue available for $18.00 from Secretary, Institute of Paper Conservation, Leigh Lodge, Leigh, Worcestershire WR6 5LB, England, for IPC members, and $27.00 for nonmembers. A major work, designed to answer the following questions: How were the early European book papers made? What specific materials, procedures and tools were used? Is it possible to make papers today using the old methods? The work was funded by the NEA, and the Kress Foundation, and assistance was received from the Institute of Paper Chemistry, Western Michigan University and numerous other individuals and institutions.

With the July 1989 issue, the IPC Abstract Bulletin became the Abstract Bulletin of the Institute of Paper Science and Technology or ABIPST.

"Practical Considerations for Conservation Bleaching," by Helen D. Burgess. Journal of the International Institute for Conservation--Canadian Group 13 (1988) 11-26. A technical and comprehensive review article, incorporating the results of several years of research at the Canadian Conservation Institute. Two bleaches satisfy most conservation requirements: the borohydride derivatives and stabilized hydrogen peroxide. Author's address: Canadian Conservation Institute, 1030 Innes Rd., Ottawa, Ont. KlA 0C8, Canada.

"The Struggle for Permanent Paper," by Ralph W. Gordon. A paper presented at the Association of Canadian Archivists 1989 Annual Conference, Fredericton, New Brunswick, 30 May 3 June, 1989. 17 pp, 32 refs. Full of information. The proceedings will not be published; request a copy from the author (see address in "People!' section).

"Putting out the Word," by Jerome P. Frank. Publishers Weekly, Oct. 6, 1989, p. 73 (?)-75. Bible publishers are using incredibly thin paper nowadays, as low as 14.5 lb., notably the King James Version UltraThin Giant Print Reference Bible, published by Holman Bible Publishers; it is less than an inch thick. It is printed on Indopaque from Braunstein in France, which has a 92 brightness and 79 opacity. A Holman spokesman said they do not specify alkaline paper for any but family Bibles. Indopaque, like most European sheets, is alkaline.

"Toward the Totally Acid-Free Book," by Jerome Frank. Publishers Weekly, July 21, 1989. A description of a vendor committed to permanence of the book: Ecological Fibers, of Lunenburg, Massachusetts, and its sister plant, Narragansett Coated Papers, in Pawtucket, Rhode Island. They supply alkaline endsheets, binders board, cover cloth, and nonwovens of the Kivar type, for Bibles as well as the full range of ordinary books. They specialize in acrylic water-based coatings. Ecological Fibers, Inc. is at Pioneer Industrial Park, Lunenburg, MA 01462 (508/537-0003).

In the same issue is an ad by Finch for "alkaline book paper from the Adirondacks" and another ad by Lindenmeyr for "Sebago, the premium permanent book paper.... It's here to stay, despite baseless rumors to the contrary." Also a short article on Thomson-Shore, a short-run printer that uses only alkaline paper. Also a four-page article, "Public Drive for Alkaline Paper Inspires New Action in the Mills," with sections on each of seven companies: Finch Pruyn, Glatfelter, International Paper, James River, Newton Falls, Penntech and Warren. Each company's leading book Publishing grades are described, and its plans for the future are touched m.

Pira (Research Association for the Paper & Board, Printing & Packaging Industries) has some research reports and conference proceedings for sale that relate to alkaline papermaking from a European point of view:

"The Development of Processes to Increase the Filler Content of Woodfree Papers to 40%." (PB5(R)/1986), by P. Howland. R-200 to nonmembers.

"High Filler Content Papers" (PB/SM/85/12; 17-18 Jan. 1985). £60 to nonmembers.

"The Chemistry of Neutral Papermaking" (PB/CSM/87/3; 10-11 Feb. 1987). £107 to members.

To order, or to obtain the lists of publications, write to Miss Claire L. Campbell, Conference Co-ordinator, Pira, Paper and Board Division, Randalls Road, Leatherhead, Surrey KT22 7RU, England. There will be another conference on the chemistry of neutral papermaking J 30-31, and the proceedings, when they appear, will cost £173 to nonmembers.

Page 229-245 of Das Papier (43 Jahrgang, Heft 6, 1989) was taken up with several papers presented at the international symposium, "Die Haltbarkeit der im heutigen Verlagswesen verwendeten Werkstoffe," Oct. 11, 1988, co-sponsored by Semar Editore (Rome), the Gutenberg-Gesellschaft and the Gutenberg-Museum in Mainz. The title means, "The Permanence of Today's Publishing Materials." The papers are:

Wie lange hält Papier? (How Long does Paper Last?) by Helmut Bansa. An eloquent description of the brittle paper problem.

Säurehaltige Papiere--Hintergründe and Perspektiven (Acid-containing Paper--Background and Perspective), by Dag-Ernst Petersen. A systematic and technical description of the problem of acidic papers from a book restorer's point of view. He objects to the use of the phrase, "crumbling to dust." They don't do this, he says, unless you use them, " the exaggeration only confuses the public.

Some Considerations on Contemporary Book Publishing, by Sahlan Momo. He discusses what should be saved, and the suitability of microfilming for preservation. The consumer's right to long-lived and durable books is emphasized.

The Materials in the Book Industry, What's the Future, by A. Zappala. A plea for permanent paper that would be more moving if his facts were more accurate. He says the "Committee on Preservation and Access" is an official body of the U.S. government; that good modern paper has been estimated to have an average life of 1,500 to 2,000 years; and that cotton fiber absorbs less gaseous pollution than wood fiber does.

The ACS Symposium Series No. 410, proceedings of the October meeting in Los Angeles (Historic Textile and Paper Materials II) is not a great bargain at $54.95. It only includes six papers on paper, which is half the number that were on the program. Omitted are papers by Ravines, Sebera, Shahani, Wilson, Kusko and Vitale. Kusko and Vitale failed to show up to read their papers, but it would have been nice to see them in the proceedings anyhow. From the table of contents:

D.J. Priest - Permanence and Alkaline-Neutral Papermaking David N.-S. Hon - Critical Evaluation of Mass Deacidification Processes for Book Preservation

C.E. Butler, C.A. Millington, and D.W.G. Clements - Graft Polymerization: A Means of Strengthening Paper and Increasing the Life Expectancy of Cellulosic Archival Material

S.B. Lee, J. Bogaard, and R.L. Feller - Damaging Effects of Visible and Near-Ultraviolet Radiation an Paper

Chandru J. Shahani, Frank H. Hengemihle, and Norman Weberg - The effects of Variations in Relative Humidity on the Accelerated Aging of Paper

Harald Berndt - A Reexamination of Paper Yellowing and the Kubelka-Munk Theory

The volume is edited by S. Haig Zeronian and Howard L. Needles, has 249+ pages and can be ordered from ACS Distribution Office, Dept. 390, 1155 Sixteenth St. NW, Washington, DC 20036, or call 800/ACS-5558.