In the world of conservation, there are several options for lengthening the life of aging paper. Deacidification, for instance, is a well-known and widely acceptable treatment for extending the life of paper. Washing pages in water (called aqueous washing) is another common method used by conservators to clean and reduce acidity in paper. A lesser-known and somewhat controversial technique for restoring fragile paper is paper splitting.

Although the concept of splitting paper to preserve it has been around for more than one hundred years, it is not widely practiced. It has received more attention in recent years as the result of a paper splitting technique developed in eastern Germany during the 1960s and 1970s. Conservators Wolfgang Wächter of the German Library (Deutsche Bücherei) and Günther Müller of the University Library in Jena collaborated in refining the technique. In 1998 the German Library's Conservation Department spawned a private book and paper conservation company, Zentrum für Bücherhaltung (ZfB).⁽¹⁾ The company, directed by Wächter, is renowned for offering paper splitting as a conservation option to its customers.

The paper splitting process employed by ZfB involves placing the page to be split between two sheets that have been coated with a special adhesive. The sheets are carefully pulled apart, separating the original page into two, with its front adhering to one sheet and its back to the other. A thin reinforcing sheet is then placed between the original front and back, and they are reattached and left to dry. The two adhesive coated sheets are then removed in an enzyme bath that is formulated to only soften the special adhesive and not damage the original page. It sounds incredible, but apparently not only works, but works especially well for pages that are extremely brittle or fragile.

The attention focused on ZfB increased with the development of a prototype paper-splitting machine. The machine was built by Becker, a German engineering firm, to the specifications of Dr. Wächter. Whereas splitting pages by hand can cost several hundred dollars per page, the one-of-a-kind paper splitting machine can reputedly split, reinforce, and reattach 2000 pages per hour for a cost of about $5 a page.

Although this machine is being promoted as a way of improving the process by removing human error, the most publicized paper splitting projects have been accomplished by hand. The Center's most famous paper splitting project to date has been the restoration of Johann Sebastian Bach's music manuscripts. The manuscripts are in various stages of deterioration resulting from corrosion of the iron gall ink used by Bach. As the ink ages, it is changing to sulfuric acid and literally eating holes in the pages. ZfB is using its paper splitting technology in an attempt to save the endangered manuscripts.

The Library of Congress has also utilized ZfB's paper splitting services. An April 28, 1912 supplement to the New York Times, dedicated to reporting the events surrounding the sinking of the Titanic, was restored to usability through this unusual treatment.

There is still some doubt within the conservation community that the process is a safe and effective means of paper restoration. After all, it is a highly invasive treatment. Nevertheless, ZfB continues to tout its process, and apparently the paper splitting machine is available for purchase. A description (in German) and photographs of the machine are available at the Becker web site.⁽²⁾ Although the price is not listed, a news report in the June, 1998 Preservation & Access International Newsletter quoted its price as 2,500,000 DM which translates at today's exchange rates to over a million dollars U.S. Given that conservators are skeptical of the long term viability of the process, and considering the hefty cost of the equipment, it seems unlikely that automated paper splitting will catch on in this country soon. On the other hand, there are sources who report that ZfB is interested in opening a U.S. branch, possibly in the Boston area, so stay tuned.

Footnotes:

^1. Translates as Center for Book Preservation, for more information see the Center's web page at: http://www.zfb.com.