Title: De balneis Puteolanis
Author: Petrus de Ebulo
Published/Created: Southern Italy, ca.1400
Owner: Morgan Library & Museum, Medieval and Renaissance Manuscripts
Dimensions: H 27.3cm x W 19.2cm x D 2.2cm
The manuscript is bound in quarter sheepskin over wooden boards with minimal blind tooling around the sewing supports. The parchment textblock consists of 7 gatherings, including later-added paper endleaves, sewn all-along with linen threads on three alum-tawed or leather split thongs.
The binding is in good condition, though previous tear repairs with parchment strips, while stable, hinder visibility (displayed in The Book of Marvels: Imagining the Medieval World). The writing media is stable, but the pigments in the illuminations are slightly unstable.
The previous mends on fol. 17r, 20r, 21r, and 23v were mechanically removed where they blocked illustrations or were lifting, using minimal moisture to assist in lifting some. Areas around the mends were cleaned gently with sponges and cotton swabs. Tears were repaired with 2-ply and 1-ply alum-tawed goldbeater’s skin and 8% isinglass solution, mainly on the verso.
The treatment was carried out in consultation with Maria Fredericks.
