Extracts from a Voyage of Discovery Round the World...

The Restoration of the David Thompson Manuscript

Extracts from a Voyage of discovery round the world by Captain George Vancouver regarding the North West coast of America. George Vancouver, David Thompson, and Meriwether Lewis.

Also includes: Thompson's "Account of an attempt to cross the Rocky Mountains ... 1801", and: "Sketch of Captn Lewis's voyage to the Pacific ... " (a copy of a letter written by Meriwether Lewis in 1806).
970P V22e1

Contents

The first 49 pages consist of Extracts from a Voyage of Discovery round the World by Captain George Vancouver. Then follows 13 pages of Thompson's attempt to cross the Rocky Mountains in 1801 and finally, 7 pages with the heading Sketch of Captain [Meriwether] Lewis's Voyage to the Pacific Ocean by the Missouri and Columbia Rivers from the States of America.

Damage

The existing sewing (stab stitched with supports) had pulled through the centre fold of the section. The cloth liner adhered to the text block had caused the last leaf to fold and break off with use. It had damaged the adjacent pages as well. The front wrapper was breaking in the same place. There were small tears and edges chipped throughout the text block. The paper was somewhat brittle and the pasted end paper and wrapper was stained.

Restoration

The non-original binding was removed as it was damaging the text block. The manuscript was not re-bound in its reconstruction of its original structure (using evidence available). A clamshell box was constructed to enclose the manuscript and protect it. All pages were dry cleaned and glue was removed from the stubs of pages 1-10 and the cloth spine liner. Torn sewing holes were repaired and a vellum guard was used to strenghten the sewing holes as well as to prevent folios from pulling through the sewing. Torn edges and holes were repaired through the text block.