18th Century Leather Bound Book - Reback a Reback

This book had been rebacked previously by a conservator . Unfortunately, the leather used for the initial reback had red rot, a deterioration of leather commonly found in vegetable tanned leather from the late 19th and early 20th century, caused by uses of products during the tanning process being absorbed by the leather. A powdery red substance forms on the leather and the leather becomes spongey and fluffy. There is no ‘cure’, and it will continue to deteriorate. If the red rot is in the beginning stages, the leather can be consolidated.