posted on March 12, 2005 08:17:48 PM new
I hit a jackpot today--a box of postcards for $15. As I began going through them tonight, I cannot believe what I have! At least half the cards were made before 1920, and many are in the early years of the century, showing buildings, women in long dresses, old old cars or horse-drawn wagons, etc. Most are in color.
And there must be 30 or more old greeting postcards for the various holidays--Christmas, Easter, birthdays, valentines.
My question: Some of them have smudges; besides the usual eraser, dry cloth cleaning etc., anybody have a great hint? I don't want to ruin the cards.
posted on March 12, 2005 08:23:34 PM new
Roadsmith...I've found that a wire brush and Easy Off oven cleaner do a great job cleaning post cards. Seriously, I'm just here to keep you company until Neglus shows up. Don't touch nothin' till you talk to her.
A $75.00 solid state device will always blow first to protect a 25 cent fuse ~ Murphy's Law
posted on March 12, 2005 11:43:10 PM new
LOL Spark! Adele,I don't so anything to my pc's to clean them up. I just make certain I scan them well and try to describe defects. A good catch all :"light surface soil" unless of course it isn't light or surface. Congrats on the find.
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"Life's journey is not to arrive at the grave safely in a well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, totally worn out, shouting "...holy sh@#...what a ride!"
posted on March 13, 2005 07:57:23 AM new
Geeeeeeez. And I had already started with the wire brush and Easy-Off. Shucks.
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You'll also find a good soak in bleach will kill anything that might be growing on them. It might also kill the picture, but at least they'll be clean!
Like neglus, I usually leave them alone. Same with old photos.
Cheryl
"No drug, not even alcohol, causes the fundamental ills of society. If we're looking for the source of our troubles, we shouldn't test people for drugs, we should test them for stupidity, ignorance, greed and love of power." ~ P.J. O'Rourke
posted on March 15, 2005 08:12:06 AM new
Anything you can't get off with a gum eraser or soft cloth has to stay. A very slightly damp cloth can be used on mold spots. That's my opinion as an archivist.
posted on March 15, 2005 05:46:46 PM new
Thanks, everybody (except Sparkz). Well, thanks, Sparkz, for the good laugh. "Light surface soil" is a good catch-all phrase and I'll try your suggestions with the art-gum eraser and soft cloth, too. I am sooooo happy to have found this cache of cards!
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Sparkz! I can always count on you.