• Owner: Regional Arhchive of Urgell (Tàrrega, Catalonia), mediated by National Arhcive of Catalonia (Catalonia Government).
• Artefact: “Llibre de la Cort del Batlle” (book of the mayor’s court), medieval manuscript in laid paper with limp vellum binding, a former wallet binding, a binding with flap. The turnins of the covers have alum tawed leather tackets. Sewn on the binding. It is a recicled binding (reused).
• Date: 1634.
• Damages: Severe creases and wrinkles on the covers, misplacing of the spine, lack of flap and button. Tattered edges. Grease stains.
• Conservation treatment: Dismantling, mould treatment, consolidation and tear mending on most damaged folios. Covers’ flattening, replacement of leather tackets, new lock and flap. New sewing reproducing the old one.
• Conservators: Paula Bueso, Rita Udina.
• Project lead by: Rita Udina.
• Other links:
  • Lecture Conservation of reused bindings (parts I & II) , in which the conservation of this manuscript is discussed (in Spanish, with subtitles).
  • Lecture Conservation of reused bindings (part II), in which the conservation of this manuscript is discussed. In English with English, Catalan and Spanish subtitles.
  • Lecture Conservation of reused bindings (part I), in in English with English, Catalan and Spanish subtitles. The manuscript is alsho shown briefly.
  • One of the treasures of Guimerà’s heritage now conserved.News on Guimerà website.
  • Conserved the Guimerà book “Cort del Batlle”. News on the Regional Archive website.

• 00:00 – Introduction
  • 00:28 – A) What is re-use with diverse purpose (disjecta membra)
  • 01:23 – B) What is reuse with diverse purpose
• 01:44 – A) Recycling with diverse purpose (disjecta membra)
  • 02:04 – a1) 1️⃣ Parchment manuscript used as a binding for an incunabula (Girona).
  • 06:12 – a2) 2️⃣ Parchment manuscript used as limp binding with rolled sewing (Lleida).
  • 10:17 – 1️⃣ vs 2️⃣. Are old repairs and re-used materials compatible with conservation requirements and to what extent their removal involves loss of readability?
  • 11:20 Decision making for disjecta membra materials (A).
• 12:11 – B) Reuse with the same purpose (recicled binding)
  • 12:49 – b1) 3️⃣ Manuscript with lace-cased binding (Terrassa).
  • 18:03 – b2) 4️⃣Manuscript with vellum binding (Girona).
  • 26:07 – b3) 5️⃣Manuscript with wallet binding (Guimerà).
  • 39:25 – Decision making for recycled bindings (B).
• 41:38 – Conclusion.
• 43:58 – Acknowledgement.

English, Catalan and Spanish subtitles.
The videos has bookmarks so that you can access each section/chapter straight ahead. For these options unfold the screw button on the right bottom corner.

• 00:00 – Conductor introduces the speaker
• 00:42 – Introduction
  • 01:06 – A) What is reuse with diverse purpose (disjecta membra)
  • 01:55 – B) What is reuse with diverse purpose
• 02:12 – A) Recicling with diverse purpose (waste, disjecta membra).
  • 02:28 – a1) Parchment manuscript used as a binding (Incunabula from Girona).
  • 04:53 – a2) Parchment manuscrip used as limp binding (Lleida).
  • 07:41 – 1 vs 2. Are old repairs and re-used materials compatible with conservation requirements and to what extent their removal involves loss of readability?
  • 08:40 Decision making for disjecta membra materials (A).
• 09:17 – B) Reuse with same purpose (recicled binding).
  • 09:35 – b1) Manuscript with wallet binding (reused binding) from Guimerà.
  • 20:14 – Decision making for recycled bindings (B).
• 21:29 – Conclusion
• 23:41 – Acknowledgement
• 24:06 – Questions