M.S.I.S Candidate, University of Texas-Austin, School of Information
C.A.S. Conservation Candidate, Kilgarlin Center for Preservation of the Cultural Record
After Treatment
During Treatment
Treatment Information
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Date: 5/4/06 Temporary ID: 06-34
Conservator: Fletcher Durant
Identification of Artifact
Owner/Custodian: Benson Latin American Collection
Address: Sid Richardson Hall 1.108
University of Texas at Austin
Austin, TX 78713-8916
Curator/Contact: Michael Hironymous
Title: Tabla estadistica (Juan Anaya Papers, Garcia Archives)
Creator: Juan Ignacio Nunez
Date of Production: [October 18, 1830]
Place of Production: Unknown
Approximate Dimensions: 44.6cm x 54.6cm (17 5/8”x21 ½”) h/w. Top piece: 22.2cm x54.6cm (8 ¾”x21 ½”); bottom piece: 22.4cm x 54.6cm (8 7/8”x 21 ½”)
Authorization
The undersigned requests and authorizes the Kilgarlin Center University of Texas-Austin, Austin, TX, to undertake conservation treatment of the artifact described in the attached Condition Report according to the procedures outlined in the appended Treatment Proposal. In the event the Owner/Custodian authorizes the Kilgarlin Center to proceed with the treatment recommended in the proposal such authorization shall be deemed to include acceptance by the depositor of the terms and conditions appearing in the original Authorization for Examination and Treatment.
Signature of Responsible Officer
For Owner/Custodian:
Date:
Treatment Objectives
To facilitate access.
Description
General
(44.6cm x 54.6cm, 17 5/8”x21 ½”) h/w
The letterpress document is printed in black on machine made paper.
Media
Black printing ink
The letterpress broadside is printed on the front in evenly applied, matte, black ink.
Iron gall ink
An annotated date is written in evenly applied, medium density, black writing ink along the top edge of the broadside. The ink appears darker under UV light, consistent with iron gall ink.
Graphite
There are two annotations lightly applied in an even hand that appear to be curatorial notes to supply missing words in the table.
Blue crayon
There is a lightly applied number on the back in blue crayon that appears to be a cataloguing annotation.
Black stamp pad ink
There are several ownership labels stamped by hand on both sides of the broadside.
Primary Support
The primary support is a single leaf of cream colored, good quality, medium weight, machine-made, wove paper. The paper appears to be good quality as evidenced by its flexibility and strength. The paper has a moderately textured surface. The leaf was folded into eighths, folded four times horizontally and once vertically.
Condition
General
The broadside is in poor condition overall.
Media
Black printing ink
Good condition overall, although there is evidence of minor loss through abrasion.
Iron gall ink
The ink has faded to brown, but is otherwise undamaged. There is no haloing, burn through, or fall-
out, even with transmitted light.
Graphite
Good condition, with no sign of smudging or abrasion.
Blue crayon
Substantial fading, making it difficult to read in normal light. The crayon has likely been abraded over time.
Black stamp pad ink
Good condition, with no evidence of fading or abrasion.
Primary Support
The support is in poor shape overall. There is little to no grime on the surface. Overall, the paper has darkened to a brownish-beige. The surface has a splotchy appearance with minor foxing and reverse foxing. There is a waxy substance on the back that has sunk through the paper forming a small greasy spot on upper, left quadrant on the front of the broadside. The paper is very soft to the touch.
The center of the document is creased and wrinkled, vertically. The creases are severe enough that some text is obscured.
The leaf has split horizontally along the middle crease roughly in half. Paperclip impressions appear along the edges of both the top and bottom half of the sheet where the two pieces were clipped together in the past. There is a major loss (16cm x 6cm) in the center of the upper margin, extending into the text. The bottom piece also has a substantial loss (4cm x 6cm) and tears radiating from that loss. There are many tears throughout the broadside, the largest of which extends from the left edge almost to the center of the document. This tear is long enough that the piece cannot be handled safely. There are small edge tears, especially along the lower edge. There is evidence of insect damage in the center of the sheet. The insect ate entirely through the paper, most likely when the paper was stacked with other documents.
Photodocumentation
Digital images were taken before treatment in ambient, raking, and transmitted light. The photographs include both overall and detailed shots.
Testing
Protocol
Media was tested at inconspicuous locations for offset using two methods, one dry and one wet.
- Tested for particulate offset using a dry cotton swab with gentle abrasion.
- Tested for dye offset using chromatography paper moistened with distilled water pressed over the media for 1, 5, and 30 seconds.
Results
- Black printing ink: Ink coated fibers offset under mild abrasion. There was no offset observed with the wet testing.
- Iron gall ink: Fibers offset under gentle abrasion. There was brown offset after 1 second of wet testing.
- Graphite: Minor offset with abrasion. There was no offset observed with the wet testing.
- Blue crayon: Media offset under pressure. There was no offset observed with the wet testing.
- Black stamp ink: There was no offset observed during either test.
Treatment Proposal
- Dry clean as possible
- Wash as possible
- Stain reduction as possible
- Alkalinize as possible
- Mend as necessary
- House in folder
Possible Effects of Treatment
It is likely that the stains will not be removed completely.
Treatment Notes
After completing the first cycle of washing and inspecting the condition of the braodside, it was decided, in consultation with Professor Karen Pavelka, that the most secure means of consolidating the document would be to line it before proceeding with fills and additional mends. For this reason, a second washing was undertaken to prepare the document for lining.
Treatment Performed
1) Tested for media solubility. (60 min.)
2) Lightly cleaned both sides of the document with a soft brush. (5 min.)
3) Dry cleaned both sides of the document with medium grain Staedtler Mars Plastic Eraser crumbs. (30 min.)
4) Wet between blotters using distilled water from a Dahlia sprayer. (5 min.)
5) Placed the document in a series of calcified water baths. Creased and folded sections of the broadside were unfolded and aligned. (30 min.)
6) Dried the pieces lightly between blotters to remove excess moisture and then dried between Hollytex and felts under light weight. (5 min.)
7) Wet between blotters using distilled water from a Dahlia sprayer. (5 min.)
8) Placed the document in a series of calcified water baths. (10 min.)
9) Removed the broadside from the bath and placed it on a Mylar sheet atop a light-table. Keeping the document wet with distilled water from a Dahlia sprayer, the pieces were aligned to their original configuration as possible. (60 min.)
10) Lined the back of the broadside with Manila hemp lens tissue using wheat starch paste. (5 min.)
11) Removed excess moisture from the broadside with clean blotters, and then dried between Hollytex and felts for 24 hours. (10 min.)
12) Toned Usimino Kozo paper (Hiromi paper) with Liquitex and Golden acrylic paints diluted with deionized water. (60 min.)
13) Filled losses in the broadside with toned Usimino and wheat starch paste. (90 min.)
14) Dried between Hollytex and felts for 24 hours. (5 min.)
15) Trimmed lens tissue lining to the edge of the support. (15 min.)
16) Inserted paste under mends in locations of weak attachment and locally dried under blotter and weights. (30 min.)
17) Placed completed item in an appropriately sized 80# Mohawk Paper folder. (10 min.)
Total Treatment Time
7 hours 15 minutes