Libraly Journal

Libraly Journal ›› 2021, Vol. 40 ›› Issue (5): 11-20.

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The Investigation and Cause Analysis of the Damage to Seal Impressions Books

Zhang Xuejin, Chen Gang   

  • Online:2021-05-24 Published:2021-05-24

Abstract: Seal impressions books are special ancient books whose main content is seal image, seal side inscription and so on. After investigating the preservation of 305 seal impressions books from Ming Dynasty to the Republic of China Period, the paper identifies some damage specific to such books, such as ink oil permeation, red ink paste contamination, paper aging accelerated by red ink paste, red ink paste discoloration, black spot on red ink paste, red ink paste mildewed, separated and shedding seal image, mildewed binder of seal image, and pigment discoloration caused by ink oil. Among these issues, ink oil permeation, red ink paste contamination, paper aging accelerated by red ink paste, and red ink paste discoloration are common, the proportion of which reached 49.51%, 22.95%, 20.66% and 16.07% respectively in the total investigation. Ink oil permeation of is also found more serious among seal impressions books of Qing Dynasty, whereas red ink paste accelerating paper ageing is obviously related to ink oil permeation. This paper also analyzes the causes of the above-mentioned issues of seal impressions book combined with historical, domestic and foreign scholars’ research.

Key words: Seal impressions book, Red ink paste, Ink oil, Diseases