INVESTIGATION AND RESTORATION OF A 17th CENTURY AD MANUSCRIPT AT AL-AZHAR LIBRARY IN EGYPT.

This case study manuscript "Suluk alttariqat alssufia", which is kept at the Al-azhar Library in Cairo is documented and treated. The manuscript was made from cotton fibers that may have been used the induction of paper. It's exposure to various deteriorating factors, including neglect and inappropriate exhibition, caused a lot of damage. The unavailability of appropriate conditions at the library, including relative humidity, temperature, light and unsealed storage cases, lead to gathering of air dust particles and aerosols inside the storage rooms. All these factors led to severe damage which resulted in the manifestation of dust and fungi stains formed on the paper manuscript. This research offers a treatment and restoration plan and illustrates the actual scientific procedures that were followed during the restoration and treatment of the manuscript, starting from the archaeological documentation, the analysis and scientific inspection (SEM-EDX, FTIR-ATR) which were carried out to identify the components, and the actual stages of restoration and conservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]