Csapodi, Csaba: Conservation of the Manuscript and Old Book Collections at the Library of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences. Methods and Results. 1949–1964 (A MTAK kiadványai 44. Budapest, 1965)

bad condition of the incunabula (Plates 5 — 8). Volumes were falling apart with cracked leather bindings; wooden covers were broken in two; books without bindings were ripping or wrapped in cardboard or old calendars and tied with string. If the old bindings were replaced, a weak, half-cloth or tasteless speckled half-leather binding was used. The condition of the collection was not improved by badly glued pages, the works trimmed without regard to their glosses, ahd the bindings mended with bits of leather. The incunabula from the Vigyázó collection were originally in relatively good condition, but after finishing the new furnishings a new roof was required and the collections had to be temporarily placed elsewhere. The incunabula were carelessly stored in piles in a room where the plaster was falling and there, along with the already damaged bindings, even those in good condition were seriously injured. The situation demanded extensive and urgent intervention for the mentioned manuscripts. In order to solve the task financial means were required. After the librarians showed the damaged books and photographs of them to the authorities, the Academy appropriated 50 000 Forints (as in case of similar work on the manuscript collection) in order to carry out the most important work on the incunabula. In Hungary, where a similar amount has never before been appropriated for book conservation, this was a considerable sum. Nevertheless it was understandable inadequate to set up a restoration workshop, research laboratory, expensive machinery and implements and a permanent staff of experts. The amount was sufficient for satisfying only a minor part of the basic needs. This investments could not be made and every cent was used for carrying out more urgent tasks. The initial work was even based on the cooperation of experts temporarily hired. It was not easy to begin. We realized the urgency and the authorities were cooperative. But because of the great inexperience the librarians had to personally work out the principles and methods. As it follows from the described events the methods and principles of book restoration and conservation in Hungary had no established and generally accepted basis. The materials, processes and tools against mould, worms etc., which were employed abroad were not yet known in Hungary. First the most important pertinent literature had to be quickly obtained from abroad and studied. We had to find collaborators capable of carrying out the tasks, examine their work and discuss their methods, harmonize the applied or suggested materials and methods with the opinions of experts, biologists, chemists, paper engineers, etc. All these had to be accomplished during the course of the work while preventing any harm to the valuable collection. No untested methods, however attractive, were allowed to be used on the old books of our Library. We are greatly indebted to the professional guidance of D. SASVÁRI and the collaborators of the Szécsényi Library who became proficient in this field; the teachers of the High School of Fine and Applied Arts: J. FABRÓ

, J. NÉMETH and their able pupils, collaborators; the conservation workshop of the National Archive — set up in 1957 and excellently equipped — which was organized by Ilona HASZNOS SZÖLLŐS who brought the institute up to international standards after several years of diligent work. We have never desired to keep our results a secret and in several instances we exhibited our work and discussed it with many experts. The general sympathy and support of the directors of the Library and the Academy led to significant amounts of money being made available for restora9