In the volume we publish papers presented on the international conference Parchment and leather – research, conservation-restoration, craftsmanship organized by the Department of Conservation of Paper and Leather at Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń on the 21–24th of October 2010. It was the first conference in Poland devoted entirely to historical objects made on the leather and parchment support. Our proposition met a warm welcome. Specialists from Poland and from abroad could share their experience and get to know the newest state of the art in the field. Topics of presentations were historical cordovans (including Wawel collection), archaeological objects from Nubba, Egypt, Greece and Poland, book covers, old saddles and diverse ethnographic objects. Parchment manuscripts, often illuminated, pastels, Jewish scrolls and finely cut openwork parchment were presented as well. Papers gathered in this book enables deepening the knowledge in the field of preservation of the historical leather objects. Oral presentations were concentrated on the issues of the technique of objects made from the tanned leathers and parchments and on the research regarding to the reasons, kinds and degree of degradation of such objects. Papers focused as well on problems of conservationrestoration treatment and practical solutions of the preventive conservation and related ethical aspects. The conference was honoured with the exhibition Conservationrestoration of cordovans – students and their supervisor, prepared by dr H. Rosa and the harpsichord concert At the Bach’s home by dr R. Moroz.

The papers from the conference are not only crucial informative source, but also the promotion of the work of conservators-restorers of historical objects made on leather and parchment support, speciality, which is now well established part of the world heritage preservation.
Elżbieta Jabłońska