Back a Book
Through careful monitoring and professional conservation of the books, manuscripts and prints in the Pepys Library and the Old Library, we can ensure that these items are studied and exhibited for years to come.
You can be part of this preservation of history by 'backing a book' - supporting an item in our historic collections which is in need of professional conservation. On this page, we have selected items which are in need of repair for you to choose from and the cost of sponsorship.
New items for Back a Book 2019-2020 will be added during the summer.
Items for Conservation
Great Brittans little calendar: or, Triple diarie by Samuel Garey, London, 1618 (Old Library)
Cost to conserve: £525.00
During the late Tudor and early Jacobean period, Protestant preachers such as Samuel Garey rejected the Catholic cycle of religious observances in favour of an alternative, secularised calendric cycle. 'Great Brittains little calendar' substitutes the traditional commemoration of saints’ days with the anniversary of events of national and political importance, including the Gunpowder Plot of 1605.
This volume needs cleaning, paper repairs, a new spine lining, and lacing of the supports with the original cover.
Cost to conserve: £525.00
Treatise of three conversions of England from paganism to Christian religion, 1603 (Old Library)
Cost to conserve: £1400.00
Robert Parsons (1546-1610) was an English Jesuit priest and missionary, who wrote widely on the political and religious matters of his day. His 'Treatise of Three Conversions of England' was intended to counter the anti-Catholic interpretation of history espoused by Protestant historians such as John Foxe (1516/17-1587), author of Foxe’s Book of Martyrs.
This volume needs extensive paper repairs, consolidation of spine lining, new end bands and restoration to the original cover.
Cost to conserve: £1400.00
Butler's Book, 1672-1695, College Archives
Magdalene College’s Butler’s Book for the years 1672 to 1676 preserves a record of the weekly expenditure of students and Fellows in the College Buttery. The Butler’s Book reveals the identities of members of College in this period and shows how much money they were spending. It also provides insight into the size and composition of the College community, and how the institution was organised and functioned.
The Butler’s Book needs extensive paper repairs, re-shaping of the spine, and the original cover needs to be flattened and then restored with re-lacing of the original supports. The cover and individual pages also need to be dry cleaned.
Cost to conserve: £1225
The London Magazine: or, Gentleman’s Monthly Intelligencer, London, 1745-1747 (Old Library)
Cost to conserve all three volumes: £700.00
The London Magazine was first established in 1732 and a collection of its earliest volumes are held in the Old Library. They contain letters, essays and pieces on a wide range of subjects, including literature, culture, politics and current affairs.
All three volumes need leather infilling to the spines and work needed to strengthen the attachment of the covers to the spine.
The third volume needs more extensive work in this regard.
Cost to conserve: £175.00 each (Volumes 1 and 2), £350.00 (Volume 3)
Cost to conserve all three volumes: £700.00
'Declarationes Des' by Erasmus, 1532 (Old Library)
*BACKED* - Cost to conserve: £525.00
This edition is by the prominent Froben printing house in Basel, which had a significant working relationship with Erasmus. This particular copy has an attractive acorn design on its binding, which is thought to be Flemish, then used subsequently in England.
The upper board of the binding is coming away and needs reattachment.
*BACKED* - Cost to conserve: £525.00
The Peterborough Antiphoner, 14th-15th century (Old Library)
*BACKED* - Cost to conserve: £70.00
This medieval antiphoner is part of Magdalene's Old Library. The colophon on the manuscript enables us to trace its provenance to Peterborough Abbey. The colophon takes the form of a 'book curse' and translates from the Latin as: 'This book belongs to the religious house at Peterborough and whoever steals or damages it will be cursed'.
To prevent movement of the parchment away from the binding, this manuscript requires a 'book shoe' to support it on the shelf.
*BACKED* - Cost to conserve: £70.00
Medical treatises and receipts, 16th century (Pepys Library)
*BACKED* - Cost to conserve: £700.00
A miscellaneous collection of medieval medical receipts, charms and treatises on topics such as the movement of the planets and the medicinal properties of herbs.
The leather around the spine needs repairing and strengthening.
*BACKED* - Cost to conserve: £700.00
Provision Accounts, 1674-1776 (College Archives)
*BACKED* - Cost to conserve: £875.00
This is one of the earliest surviving College account books to survive and provides a unique snapshot of daily life in College in the 17th and 18th centuries. The Provision Account Book preserves a record of the quantities and costs of food and drink supplies purchased for the students and Fellows who dined every day in the College Hall. Sometimes the names of members of the College are recorded in the accounts, as well as College staff, tradesmen and suppliers who might not be mentioned in any other sources.
The account book needs a new cover, extensive paper repairs, the spine needs to be re-lined and re-shaped, and several loose pages and sections of the book need to be re-sewn.
*BACKED* Cost to conserve: £875.00
Back A Book
If you would like to back a book, please complete the online donation form.
Back A Book Donation FormAlternatively, if you would prefer to send a cheque please download complete and return the paper donation form.
For those who support the conservation of an item in full, we will recognise your generous contribution in the following ways:
- a 'Conservation Report' outlining the work undertaken on the item, with 'before and after' photos for personal study
- acknowledgement in the online catalogue record of the book, if applicable (currently printed books only)
- an acknowledgement in the Pepys Library section of the college website and the 'Friends of the Pepys Library' Newsletter
The 'lead time' for the conservation may vary, especially in the unlikely event of an emergency repair arising. However, we will keep in contact with you regarding the estimated timescale.
Friends of the Pepys
Back a Book is run in parallel with our Friends of the Pepys Library and Historic Collections scheme. You do not need to be a member to back a book.
If you are interested in joining the Friends of the Pepys to keep up to date with news from the historic libraries please visit the Friends of the Pepys webpage or contact the Coordinator of the Friends Library at pepysfriends@magd.cam.ac.uk.