cleaning postcards

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tommyjones
Posts: 1
Joined: Wed Jun 25, 2008 5:56 pm

cleaning postcards

Post by tommyjones »

hi there everybody.
i was reading an old copy (1999) of picture postcard monthly and there was an article concerning a club meeting where there was a demonstration of how to clean postcards; specifically removing foxing spots involving some fluid which apparently was brushed onto the cards, with excellent results.
unfortunately no mention was made of the name of this product.as i collect ww1 silks many of which have the odd foxing spot i would be very interested to hear from anyone who knows what this fluid is and how efficient it is.my research (google) so far have proved fruitless, the only things i can find which might be close is something called chloramine-t but all the info i can find says it is extremely potent stuff and is just as likely to ruin ( permanently) your cards rather than just clean them.
can anyone help?

Brianz
Posts: 13
Joined: Sat Jun 14, 2008 6:06 pm

Re: cleaning postcards

Post by Brianz »

I cannot help with a name for the product you seek but perhaps another member can?

If no product name is forthcoming, may I suggest consulting an archivist at a major public or university library or historical society? The science of preservation has come a long way and I'm fairly certain you will find the kind of information you seek via this alternate route.

Best of luck. I hope you will share what you learn either with use of the product you seek or other information.

Brian

Andrew
Posts: 95
Joined: Tue Dec 12, 2006 4:26 pm
Location: Gillingham, Kent

Re: cleaning postcards

Post by Andrew »

I found this website http://periodfinebindings.typepad.com/r ... and_milde/

Personally, I would leave prefer to leave such work to experts - or leave the foxing as it is.

MichaelDay
Site Admin
Posts: 179
Joined: Tue Nov 08, 2005 11:31 pm
Contact:

Re: cleaning postcards

Post by MichaelDay »

There used to be a product available called 'Fox-It' marketed by Ducal Postcards (Jack & Thelma Duke), who these days specialise in toy soldiers http://www.fort-ducal.co.uk/.

It smelt like a dilute bleach... Chloramine-t was the ingredient. It came in a small brown medicine bottle or as a powder to mix.

I think stamp collectors use it also?

Results were varied, sometimes it would work perfectly, other times leave a stain or bleach the surrounding area of the spot on the card.

...I'd be very careful

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