Fragmentology (manuscripts)

[2] The conversion of northern Europe to Protestantism and the closing of monasteries and convents resulted in the discarding of many Catholic religious and liturgical manuscripts some of which were used by bookbinders.

Removal of these fragments destroys important context and evidence and is strongly criticized by scholars.

Where it is necessary to remove such fragments, accepted practice requires they be preserved with the book and their original location recorded.

In the twentieth century some book dealers began removing leaves from manuscripts to be sold for greater profit as individual pages or keepsakes.

[5] This "breaking" of manuscripts has been most common with books of hours which contain illuminated pages, gilding and attractive decorations.