https://doi.org/10.1140/epjp/s13360-025-06472-0
Regular Article
Multi-analytical study of materials of a printed book titled «Παρακλητική, ήτοι, Οκτώηχος η Μεγάλη», issued by Saint George’s printing office, in Venice, 1857
Department Conservation of Antiquities and Works of Art, University of West Attica, Agiou Spyridonos 28, 12243, Athens, Greece
a
cons18676033@uniwa.gr
b
vkokla@uniwa.gr
Received:
11
November
2024
Accepted:
24
May
2025
Published online:
26
June
2025
This paper presents a study about a book issued in 1857 by Saint George’s printing office in Venice. The Greek community of Venice founded this printing office in the mid-nineteenth century. However, regarding the Greek community and its activity, there is limited insight into the materials or the technical aspects used by this specific printing office. This study focuses on identifying and documenting the materials used, primarily for the manufacture of the inks and the paper of the book in consideration. The examination methods of this study were optical microscopy (OM) to observe the materials used in the book manufacturing and their preservation state and the texture of the paper and the ink, scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM/EDS) to examine the paper, the printing inks, fibers of sewing and textile, as well as leather of bookbinding, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and finally reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP – HPLC), were applied to investigate the binder of the inks. The proposed methodology provides important information on the manufacture of materials used in the 19th-century book printed by the printing press of St. George. The complementarity of the used methods was an important asset in achieving valid and reliable results. The materials used in bookbinding, such as leather, sewing fibers, and textiles, as well as the paper and inks used for the text, are typical for books from the nineteenth century. A notable finding is the use of walnut oil as the binder for the inks, instead of the more commonly used linseed oil.
Copyright comment Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.
© The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Società Italiana di Fisica and Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature 2025
Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.
