Restoration Of The Manuscript: "Ma...i

Restoration Of The Manuscript: "Masnavi Ma'navi"

Description

The author of this book is Molavi Jalal al-Din Mohammad Balkhi, and its subject matter is literature. The scribe, Abdul Qadir ibn Kamal al-Din Bani Isra'ili, wrote the manuscript in 1053 AH, and it is cataloged under inventory number 38628. This book is written in Persian in the Nasta'liq script, consisting of 319 pages, with dimensions of 17.5 x 20 cm. Damages: This manuscript has suffered extensive damage due to biological factors such as termites and bookworms. Most of the pages have holes, and the edges show signs of paper erosion. The manuscript underwent restoration in the past, but unfortunately, the adhesive used was unsuitable, causing most of the attached patches to lose adhesion and detach from the manuscript. Additionally, poor environmental storage conditions, particularly humidity in the upper spine area, have contributed to its acidic nature. Furthermore, the book's cover has been completely damaged and is no longer usable. Restoration Actions: The restoration process began with dusting off the manuscript and documenting its condition. After pH testing, the overall acidity level of the pages was determined to be 6, while the upper spine area measured 5.5. The spine was carefully opened using a scalpel, and the pages were deacidified using a calcium hydroxide solution applied with a spray method. Damaged adhesive patches were meticulously removed, and the missing sections (those eaten by termites) were filled with 29-gram tissue paper. For smaller holes, thinner 8-gram tissue paper was used. After completing the restoration, a new cover made entirely of tīmāj leather was crafted for the manuscript. Carboxymethyl cellulose (SMS) adhesive was used for the restoration of the pages, while natural glue (serish) was used in making the cover.