The decision was made to rebind the textblock into a more flexible structure, such as a limp parchment binding, to allow for better opening and full accessibility of the writings. Given the book’s size and thickness, a limp structure with minimal work on the spine seemed appropriate to achieve the desired flexibility. I considered two options: 1. semi-limp parchment binding, and 2. long-stitch binding. To determine which would provide the widest opening, I made models of both structures in the same size as the manuscript. The long-stitch binding proved slightly more restrictive, so I chose the semi-limp binding with three thin supports.

For the treatment, I began by removing the covering materials and cleaning the spine to separate the gatherings. Additional cleaning was needed on the center folds of the outermost leaves to remove adhesive, followed by mending, humidification, and flattening. The textblock, with new parchment endleaves, was sewn all-along on five thin alum-tawed thongs using linen threads. A large piece of parchment was folded around the textblock, leaving squares at the head, tail, and fore edges to create the case. Holes were punched for sewing supports/slips to lace through. To add support, thick laminated paper was inserted inside the front and back covers, and the first and last endleaves were tucked under the folds of the case. The parchment corners inside the covers were pasted together, with small tackets added at the head and tail turn-ins to secure them.

This treatment was carried out in consultation with Frank Trujillo and Maria Fredericks.

After treatment, the book was displayed in the Medieval Money, Merchants, and Morality exhibition (11/10/2023–3/10/2024) at the Morgan.