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  • 1.  Leather bloom

    Posted 09-12-2024 14:24
    Please could you tell me the latest practice for removing leather bloom on books. At the moment l am removing the white bloom by polishing with a cloth, but l can still feel the waxy dressing. Feels like l have not removed much, only the bloom, and consequently have polished the binding! What are your thoughts? What chemicals are people using?
    Should l use an alcohol wipe, would that work?
    Thanks for your help. 
    Gillian Boal, Conservator,  
    UCB law library, Berkeley.



  • 2.  RE: Leather bloom

    Posted 09-13-2024 10:56

    Hello,

    I treated the leather bloom that I encountered in a collection by gently brushing off the bloom with a soft brush. This was done in a fume hood, for my safety and for preventing the "bloom dust" from contaminating other materials. The gentle brushing shouldn't impact the surface of the binding.

    Best, Barbara Adams Hebard



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    Barbara Adams Hebard
    Conservator
    Ricci Institute for Chinese-Western Cultural History
    Boston College
    Chestnut Hill, MA 02467
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