Identification and Control of Damaging Microorganisms in Manuscripts of Central Tabriz Library, Iran

Abstract

A large number of historical artifacts have low resistance to pests since they are made of organic substances. Such works can be consumed by several living organ­isms and can often be an ideal environment for micro-organisms to grow, particularly when favorable conditions such as appropriate climate and absence of light are pres­ent. The way in which manuscripts are stored in archives, such as shelves, acid-free boxes and relative temperature control, means that both humidity and aerosols can play a determining role in their safety. Considering the principle of the priority of con­servation over restoration, several measures should be adopted for the safety and authenticity of the works, which will also lead to a decrease in restoration costs. The Central Tabriz Library possesses a precious collection consisting of several thousand volumes of valuable books, authentic documents and lithographic books. It is worth noting that the first hand-written work from Iran to be registered on the UNESCO Memory of the World Heritage list was, “Vaghf Nameh Rab'-e Rashidi,” the Deed of En­dowment of the Rab' i-Rashidi. The document is a historical manuscript book authored by Sheikh Rashid al-din Fazlollah and is regarded as a part of this collection.

Keywords

• hand-written
• micro-organism
• biological damage
• preventive conservation