Frontage, National Library of Scotland

Category

Library Item

Item no

54072

Title

Frontage, National Library of Scotland, George IV Bridge

Artist / maker

Jackman, S. G.

Date

1956

Size

5 x 4 inches

Type

Photographic film

Location

Edinburgh and Scottish Collection

The National Library of Scotland on George IV Bridge was designed by Reginald Fairlie. Work began in the 1930's, but the disruption of the Second World War meant that the building was not finished until 1956. The imposing, windowless frontage includes seven figures by the sculptor Hew Lorimer representing 'The Arts of Civilisation'. The library is Scotland's only copyright deposit library.

This digital image is from a donation of material to the library by the photographer, S. G. Jackman. The material included prints, notebooks, glass negatives and photographic film negatives. Unfortunately, it was discovered that some of the film negatives were badly damaged by Vinegar Syndrome, so called because of the distinctive vinegary odour it produces. Cellulose acetate can be chemically unstable and deterioration of the cellulose acetate triggered by heat, moisture or acidity, can lead to Vinegar Syndrome. Vinegar Syndrome once developed, can’t be reversed. The Vinegar Syndrome effects are very evident in some of these images showing the crackling and bubbling on the surface of the film which in some cases had become separated from the base layer. It was decided that we would digitise the negatives to preserve Jackman’s photographic record of Edinburgh and then dispose of the contagious negatives.

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Architecture > Architectural features > Doors and doorways

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Transport > Infrastructure > Roads

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