Recollections of Tony Cains and his Approach to the Treatment of Parchment Manuscripts

Abstract

ABSTRACT The materials, tools and techniques that were developed and used by Tony Cains for the treatment of parchment manuscripts at the Library of Trinity College Dublin (TCD), are the focus of this article. The insights that he gained either directly from Sandy Cockerell, or from Roger Powell through his work on TCD and Royal Irish Academy (RIA) manuscripts, is also discussed. Examples are given of parchment manuscripts treated by Cains or his staff, and by the author while an intern at TCD and afterwards at the Walters Art Gallery under his continued mentorship.