Abstract
This study focuses on a historical leather cover of a manuscript dating back to the 10th A.H century from Al-Azhar Library. The study aims to use analytical techniques to identify the components of the historical leather cover of the manuscript, and to explain its deterioration process. Analytical methods used in this study were visual assessment, investigation of the surface morphology by a digital microscope and a scanning electron microscope (SEM), Attenuated total reflection Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR), amino acid analysis, identification of fungi, and measurement of pH. The results revealed that the leather suffered from brittleness, white stain, dust, fungal stains, cracks, in addition to missing and burnt parts. The results of SEM revealed that goatskin was identified as the animal skin of the historical leather cover of the manuscript. ATR-FTIR analysis revealed the degradation of chemical composition of the historical leather cover of the manuscript. The amino acid analysis stated that the chemical composition of historical cover of the manuscript suffered from deterioration through oxidation and hydrolysis mechanisms. Aspergillus sp , Chaetomium sp , Penicillium sp , and Fusarium sp were the most dominant fungi found. All analytical techniques used in this study proved that the historical leather cover of the manuscript is in urgent need of conservation.
Highlights
Leather artifacts are found in many places in Egypt, but in some of these places, international standards of conservation are not applied
The current work proved that the historical leather cover of the manuscript suffers from deterioration caused by surrounding environmental conditions through characterization using different techniques
AutoCAD documentation, and investigation of the surface morphology by digital microscope showed many aspects of deterioration on the surface of the leather cover such as brittleness and embrittlement of some parts, white stains, holes caused by insects, wrapping, loss of tanning material, and missing parts
Summary
Leather artifacts are found in many places in Egypt (museums, libraries, etc.), but in some of these places, international standards of conservation are not applied. The historical leather cover of the manuscript exposed to air and light exhibited a great content of sulphuric acid originating from the polluting atmosphere. Deterioration of paper-based materials is mainly due to the degradation of cellulose caused by many factors, such as chemical attack due to acidic hydrolysis, oxidative agent, light, air pollution, and biological attack and the presence of microorganisms like bacteria and fungi [1, 2]. Because of the importance of these leather artifacts in general and the historical leather cover of the manuscripts and historical books especially, of religious, cultural, historical, civilization, and artistic values, the role of restoration and conservation is to reveal, highlight and preserve these values. This study aims to apply some analytical techniques to identify, the components of the historical leather cover of the manuscript, determine the deterioration of its paper inner lining, and to explain its deterioration process
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