Case Study

William Bligh journals C1789....

Artlab Australia’s conservators treated the logbooks of the Bounty. Lt. William Bligh had written two separately bound books during his journey to the Pacific Island of Tahiti, which detailed the events of the infamous mutiny on the Bounty, and his perilous journey back to Britain.

The logbooks were in poor condition primarily due to age and continual handling. Volume Two, which has Bligh’s account of the mutiny, was especially degraded with a distorted spine and weak sewing. The folios of some sections were splitting down the fold and there were losses around the edges.

On examination of the books, it became apparent that Bligh sewed in sections and glued pages into the original volume, which placed stress on the binding. All additions have different watermarks to the original text block, which suggests they were added on his return to England. Most interestingly he also glued in a replacement page in the entry dated April 28, 1789, the date of the mutiny.

Quill shavings and volcanic sand were found in the gutters of the logbooks. The volcanic sand, known as hematite, was also found in the iron gall ink Bligh used to write his record.

The condition and materials used in cultural items often tell a story without the contribution of provenance. The ethical reasons of ‘taking down’ the books were therefore heavily debated prior to treatment. It was decided to re-sew the badly degraded Volume Two, in case further use and display continued to damage the book.

The text block was removed from the vellum covers and boards, and the original stitching was removed. All of the folios were repaired down the fold with thin Japanese paper and starch paste. The folios were re sewn with a special allowance for Bligh’s later additions. Anthony was careful to make it obvious that these papers were not a part of the original, but simultaneously did not compromise the strength of the new binding. The boards were flattened before the original vellum cover was lined and replaced. New vellum ties were used in the sewing and aided in the attachment of the cover. A new headband with vellum core was sewn using original colours and a contemporary design of the late 1700’s.

Volume Two was much stronger after treatment. Original material was not replaced during the treatment so as not to remove historical evidence. Degraded material was removed from the structure but documented and retained, to be kept with the journals for future reference.

Volume One was not as degraded as the second logbook. It was decided not to treat it to the same extent, but to still remove its cover for flattening. The original text block sewing was quite strong and did not require extensive treatment. A headband was sewn identical to Volume Two. Happily, original material and technique was retained in the original binding structure of this volume as historical evidence to represent the two books.

The books have been returned to the Mitchell Library at the State Library of New South Wales.

*Original logbooks held by the Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales

Home Page