There is no friend as loyal as a book.

– Ernest Hemingway 

The Honorable Society of King’s Inns (King’s Inns) is a ‘not for profit’ educational institution registered with the Charities Regulator of Ireland. We can accept donations and bequests for educational or heritage preservation purposes. For more information on Donations and Sponsorships to King’s Inns, please visit here. 

What is Conservation Restoration?

Here at King’s Inns we are dedicated to preserving the cultural heritage placed in our care, which has been built up over the centuries. Among our collection are thousands of books, covering a range of subject matters, some dating as far back as the 14th century, in varying states of preservation. A lot of maintenance is involved in taking care of these books and the costs involved are considerable and ongoing. King’s Inns wishes to operate from a conservation standpoint. What this means is that we wish to restore books from our heritage collection using a conservation book binder. This specialised binding process ensures that wherever possible, as much of the original binding is kept and used, integrating it into any new binding elements required. A good example of how this works visually can be seen in our Magna Carta project [see project below].

Some of our volumes may only exist in a handful of other libraries in the world. The volumes we hold cover a vast array of topics from law to history, literature to art, philosophy to travel and many more. 

If you have any questions or queries in regards to a contribution to our library conservation restoration project, please feel free to email us at conservation.support@kingsinns.ie 

I love everything that’s old – old friends, old times, old manners, old books, old wine

– Oliver Goldsmith 

List of Contributors 

• Atlantic Philanthropies
• Friends of the late Mr Justice Paul Carney
• Ruth McCarthy
• Riley Dunn and Wilson
• Glenageary Trekkers
• Gabriel McGovern

A select few titles of restoration projects undertaken so far are:

• Trials for Treason, Vol. III, Dublin, 1817
• The Great Charter called in Latyn Magna carta, London: Thomas Petyt, 1542
• Geological Observations on South America by Charles Darwin, London: Smith, Elder & Co. 1846
• De Casibus Virorum Illustrium by Antonio Maria Gratiano, Lutetiae Parisorium: Apud Antonium Cellier, via Citharea, 1680
• The Meditations of the Emperor Marcus Aurelius Antoninus, 3rd Edition, Glasgow: Robert and Andrew Foulis, 1752

Les Ans du Roi – February 2020

Magna Carta 1556 – November 2018

Darwin ‘On the Geology of South America’ – Dec 2015

British Embassy Summer Garden Party – Sept 2015

Magna Carta Project – April 2015 

The below images of restored books are courtesy of The Ox Bindery.

Our Conservation and Restoration Partners

Each partner brings their own unique skills and services to help us conserve and/or restore our heritage collection. 

• The Ox Bindery
• Paper Conservation Studio
• Muckross Bookbindery
• Riley Dunn & Wilson Ltd

How to Contribute? 

• A gift for a friend or colleague to mark a significant life event (personal or professional).
• A personal contribution to cultural preservation.
• Corporate contribution to cultural preservation. If a company contributes above €2000 and wishes to mark the presentation of the book/books in a special way this can be arranged at King’s Inns at a nominal cost.
• Providing for a donation by way of leaving a bequest in a will: If you or a friend would like to remember the King’s Inns we would be happy to assist by way of information or advice as required. Please make contact with the Librarian if such a bequest or testamentary provision is being contemplated. Our organisation is a ‘not for profit’ educational institution which can accept donations and bequests for educational or heritage preservation purposes.

It is important to note that the restoration work can take a considerable amount of time from the documentation, assessment and estimate stage to the work being carried out. This process can take anywhere from 4–12 months from receipt of your contribution.

Sponsorship Options and Rewards

Option 1 – €150.00

Your rewards:

• You will be a Conservation Patron of our cultural heritage collection. 
• Your name (or the name of your nominee) will be (optional) added to the list of contributing sponsors on our website.
• An official certificate of sponsorship and details, issued by King’s Inns.

Click here to Contribute

Option 2 – €250.00

Your rewards:

• You will be a Conservation Patron of our cultural heritage collection. 
• Your name (or the name of your nominee) will be (optional) added to the list of contributing sponsors on our website.
• An official certificate of sponsorship and details, issued by King’s Inns.
• As a permanent record of your contribution a bookplate within the restored book will state your name (or the name of your nominee) and the work your sponsorship covered (book/s for conservation selected by King’s Inns).

Click here to Contribute

Option 3 – €500.00

Your rewards:

• You will be a Conservation Patron of our cultural heritage collection. 
• Your name (or the name of your nominee) will be (optional) added to the list of contributing sponsors on our website.
• An official certificate of sponsorship and details, issued by King’s Inns.
• As a permanent record of your contribution a bookplate within the restored book will state your name (or the name of your nominee) and the work your sponsorship covered (book/s for conservation selected by King’s Inns).
• Photographic documentation of the work carried out will be forwarded to you for your own records.

Click here to Contribute

Option 4 – Open Amount

Your rewards:

• You will be a Conservation Patron of our cultural heritage collection. 
• Amounts below €125 will ensure your name is (optional) included on the list of contributors on our website.
• For any amounts in excess of €750, please contact the Librarian. 

Click here to Contribute