The Restoration of 1.33

In this year of Olympic swordsmanship the manuscript is being loaned for exhibition to the Wallace Collection in London. In preparation for display I.33 has been conserved and rebound, presenting the Royal Armouries with an opportunity to photograph the manuscript and to produce a top quality facsimile volume of this uniquely ancient source and most sought after of Fight-books. The funds raised will be used to maintain and develop the Royal Armouries’ collections.

Each image will be subject to a rigorous digital examination to ensure the best possible and most accurate reproduction of the original parchment pages in full colour. The final reprographics and printing will be done at the fine art department of Senecio Press.

The collated print will then be sewn and trimmed at our bindery, Ludlow Bookbinders, who have many decades of experience in original and replica bindings.

The original manuscript has been re-sewn onto soft leather tapes and rebound in a soft or semi limp vellum casing without boards in order to best protect the priceless pages of 1.33 without putting any strain on the original material. While this is eminently suitable for the restoration it is not for everyday use.

 Accordingly, and after extensive research and consultation, we have designed a replica fourteenth century binding with a blocked leather spine with raised bands over wood/composite boards. This is not only to stay true to the style of the period but also to create a suitably robust binding that will ensure the longevity of your copy of the book.