The Netherlands illuminated atlases of the 16th-17th centureies of the M.E. Saltykov-Shchedrin State Public Library collection have been badly damaged due to the effect of green paint. The browning of the green paint, as well as of the parts of the reverse side of the sheet where the green paint was applied on the foreside, was observed. The brittleness of the paper under the paint increased which resuIted in the fracture of the sheet or losing fragments. The problem was to find a procedure for the conservation of paper and paint and develop proper methods for work with these materials. The paper properties and the paint composition of the atlases were investigated. In most cases the green paint was found to contain the pigment verdigris, which is the salt of copper acetate. Model samples were produced using copper acetate as the pigment of the paint. The change of properties in the process of artificial aging was estimated. The procedure for conservation of the atlases' sheets included the spreading of a protection cover by means of ethylcellulose solution; bleaching with Chloramine B or hydrogen peroxide solution; removal of the ethylcellulose film; stabilization treatment with calcium and magnesium bicarbonate solutions and impregnation with poly(vinyl alcohol) or fluoroplastic solutions; or lamination with tissue-paper. The permanence and durability value of the paper after the treatment was approximated.