posted on November 30, 2000 09:49:06 PM
Hi people. Cleaning out a 125-year-old cabin this summer before demolition (really--it was falling down!) we came upon old early 1900s newspapers in the floors and walls. I rescued just a bit from them, but lots of old comics--any advice on that? In color, big wide pages and all! A bit dirty, some of them, but still charming. But I digress....
I came upon an article about how to make the "modern" arts and crafts furniture, with pictures. The paper is nearly brown with age and hard but not impossible to read. I don't know of a process to get the burned brown look out but just can't bear to throw it away. Do you think any Arts and Crafts lovers would be interested? And then, how would you take a picture of something like that?
posted on November 30, 2000 10:27:55 PM
Regarding the old comics, these can be quite a find. Of course condition makes a huge difference. These can usually be researched on eBay quite easily. What are some of the titles?
posted on December 1, 2000 02:55:51 AM
You might be able to scan it, then do some serious color correction to get rid of the brown.
The logical recipient of this stuff would be the local historical society. When my parents remodelled a house in the 1950s they found the window casings stuffed full of papers from years earlier, and the historical society was happy to get them.
posted on December 1, 2000 08:09:35 PM
Kathie--You asked what old comics we have (the color Sunday ones are what I saved):
Barney Google
The Katzies
The Katzenjammer Kids (same as above)
Mutt and Jeff
On Our Block
Bringing Up Father
Down on the Farm
The Gumps
The Kernel
'Smatter Pop?
Gasoline Alley
These are from 1922, 1923.
And the prize, I think (tell me if I'm wrong?) is a half-page color ad for American Flyer railroad trains. Would collectors want it? It's in great condition.
posted on December 1, 2000 08:18:57 PM
Stusi--I don't think so. At least, my take on it is to show the browned clipping in an auction AND the corrected one to show people more clearly what's in the clipping. Does this make sense? (I'm new at this--be gentle with me, please!)
posted on December 1, 2000 10:29:39 PM
If any of those old newspapers are from late May or summer 1889 check for notations on "The Johnstown Flood" which took place May 28, 1889. They will bring you a decent amount on eBay.
posted on December 2, 2000 06:20:23 AM
roadsmith: eBay has a whole category for these comics called
Collectibles > Comic Books > Newspaper Comics
You can research your find there. None of the names you mention above sound like the more sought after titles, but if you have a complete sunday section it's definitely worth investigating further.
