Hi Diane Thanks for elaborating on this but I think it highlights the need for some standards amoung linen backers/restorers ie what is and what is not acceptable. I would not want to have a layer taken off the back of a window card - period, but that is obviously just my opinion. If someone buys a backed and restored window card I wonder how they would feel if they knew that the back layer had been taken off. There have been some high end window cards at major auctions that have had extensive restoration. I guess that the same process of removing the back layer may have been used with some of these items.
I fully understand that clients often want their posters to be restored to near perfect condition but I think it might be time to start setting some industry standards. Regards John Sign up for my regular newsletter on movie memorabilia: http://www.moviemem.com/pages/page.php?mod=account&go=register Visit my Website: www.moviemem.com All About Australian posters: http://search.reviews.ebay.com/members/johnwr_W0QQuqtZg My eBay Store and Lisitngs: http://myworld.ebay.com/johnwr/ Exhibitions: http://www.moviemem.com/pages/page.php?page=15 JOHN REID VINTAGE MOVIE MEMORABILIA PO Box 92 Palm Beach Qld 4221 Australia ----- Original Message ----- From: Diane Jeffrey To: MoPo-L@LISTSERV.AMERICAN.EDU Sent: Sunday, September 27, 2009 10:13 AM Subject: [MOPO] Profiles in History...question John - I really understand your question here and concern. Let me try to elaborate a bit more. Window cards are made of a layer of very thin paper that the poster is printed on. This paper is adhered to the card stock, giving it that thickness. The really old window cards are usually pretty beaten up. As I said they have been trimmed, but also very dirty, moldy, and with the paper being acidic, turning brown, faded, bug infestation, etc, etc. The only way to properly treat all of the above problems, is to remove the backing, and treat the poster paper by washing, deacidifying, treating mold etc., just like a one sheet is treated and then backed. You have to treat all of the issues to properly preserve the paper, so that it will survive the years to come. To my knowledge, this is the best way to do this. I know of no way to accomplish this by treating the thick card, there is no assurance that water, chemicals, etc will penetrate the thick card, you would have to leave it in solutions way too long, and the paper would start to disintegrate. Adhering a layer of acid free paper and card stock, to me, does not seem to compromise the integrity of the card, but I suppose that can be debated. If Dario, or anyone else has anything to add, that would be great. We are always looking for the best way to treat and preserve these treasures. Diane Studio C Visit the MoPo Mailing List Web Site at www.filmfan.com ___________________________________________________________________ How to UNSUBSCRIBE from the MoPo Mailing List Send a message addressed to: lists...@listserv.american.edu In the BODY of your message type: SIGNOFF MOPO-L The author of this message is solely responsible for its content. Visit the MoPo Mailing List Web Site at www.filmfan.com ___________________________________________________________________ How to UNSUBSCRIBE from the MoPo Mailing List Send a message addressed to: lists...@listserv.american.edu In the BODY of your message type: SIGNOFF MOPO-L The author of this message is solely responsible for its content.
