Wallace Conservation Lab

Nine months ago, we posted about these jars of water (http://msulconservationlab.tumblr.com/post/108193028342/this-row-of-jars-shows-how-much-discoloration) which hold samples from each subsequent washing of a book printed in the 1600s (http://catalog.lib.msu.edu/record=b2150582~S23a).

I was making my merry way through the lab the other day when I noticed something growing in Jar 1. GROWING, you guys. 

I fear we have awakened an ancient evil. Wait, I mean bacteria. An ancient bacteria. Either way, gross. I’m so glad we washed the beginnings of this mysterious gunk out of that book!

~Autumn

Mold, certain types of adhesives, and some pigments will fluoresce under UV light.  The first photo shows an about-to-be-washed book page with some very suspicious glowing yellow spots.  The second image shows what the book looks like under normal light, and the third image shows the same page after washing (with lots less neon yellow ickiness).

Dirty water left behind after washing some very dirty book pages.

This row of jars shows how much discoloration comes out in each bath of deionized water when washing book pages.  The jar 0 contains water straight from the tap, which is why it's clear.  Jar 1 is very yellow.  Jar 2 is lighter...with each change of the wash water, less and less discoloration is left behind, until finally, the water is clear again!

Watch how the water turns from clear to pale yellow after these (very dirty) book pages are placed in a bath of deionized water.  Gross!

Freshly washed pages drying on a screen before being put in between blotters to dry.

Special Collections Conservator Bexx Caswell drains a stack of book pages after they've had a bath in deionized water.

Photo by autumnalia