The Science Library of Tartou University (Estonia) contains books going back to the 13th century, including a large nu mber of 13th-18th century books bound in leather. The restoration of leather bound volumes was found to have been but little studied; in particular neither the correct style of binding not the correct materials have always been incorporated. In the present case, the work organized was of two kinds: (1) conservation and softening of the leather bindings of the whole collection; (2) restoration of rare volumes on a full scientific basis. For the latter, a study of the one binding at hand was insufficient. It was necessary to make a full historical study of the book for the given area. Work of this kind in recent years has been on the bindings from the monastery of Pskov-Petchora -- little known Greco-Slavic bindings of the 14th-17th centuries. The detailed problems arising in connection with this study are mentioned. Each binding was studied individually with regard to con struction, biological agents of damage, pigment fastness, etc., and photo graphed. An historical study of the monastery was also incorporated. Characteristics of the paper were noted. Some 13 characteristics of thesebindings, found in the course of the work, are described.