"Texas.  Address of the Honorable Wm. H. Wharton, delivered in New York, on Tuesday, April 26, 1836" - Mend, resew, re-house

Before Treatment

During Treatment

After Treatment

Download Word Version of Treatment Report

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 OBJECTIVE
Improve the chemical and physical stability of the pamphlet for access and handling.

DESCRIPTION
A 19th century political pamphlet comprised of three two-folio sections with an additional single sheet, possibly tipped on, rebound in an acidic commercial pamphlet binder.  It is unclear whether the pamphlet was originally sewn but it is currently wrapped in a piece of acidic paper and stab sewn into a commercial pamphlet binder. 

The textblock is in fair condition overall.  The paper is a soft, medium weight, slightly textured, cream colored paper that has discolored to a darker cream color.  The first page of the pamphlet has discolored to a beige color, especially along the head, tail and fore-edge.  The cut edges of the textblock have become soft with use and the upper right corners are dog-eared.  The first three pages have losses.  Dark brown accretions, possibly residual rust from the use of metal paperclips, are present on the rectos of pages 1-3 and the verso of page 27.  Brown liquid stains are apparent throughout the textblock, especially along the head and right corner. The first page of the pamphlet is missing the upper 5th of the page and was repaired, prior to binding in the pamphlet binder, by lining the whole page with a very thin sheet of long fiber paper.  The lining is too thin to act as an in-fill for the page and is bent and torn in the exposed area.

The pamphlet is relief printed and has a visible type impression.  The printing ink is a black, even, matte, ink.  There are graphite and black writing ink annotations at the bottom of the recto of pages 2 and 13.  The writing ink has discolored to a honey brown color and has bled to the verso of each page.    The second page of the pamphlet has a perforated library ownership stamp in the upper portion of the page.

PHOTODOCUMENTATION
Digital photographs were taken before treatment in ambient light.  The photographs include overall shots, as well as detailed shots.

TESTING
Protocol
The inks were tested for their stability using three different tests:

• Particulate offset was tested using a dry cotton swab and gentle abrasion.  The test was done under a microscope so that the smallest amount of offset would be detected.
• Dye offset was tested by contacting a piece of chromatography paper, moistened with deionized water, with the medium for up to 10 seconds, and looking under a microscope for offset of the medium onto the chromatography paper.
• Solubility was tested by applying a very small droplet of deionized water to an inconspicuous area of the medium and allowing the water to sink into the paper.  The test was performed under magnification to detect the first sign of change.

Results

• Black Printing Ink
• No particulate offset when tested with a cotton swab.
• No offset onto the moistened chromatography paper.
• No change with the water droplet test.
• Graphite
• Minimal particulate offset when tested with the cotton swab.
• No offset onto the moistened chromatography paper.
• No change with the water droplet test.
•  Black Writing Ink
• No particulate offset when tested with a cotton swab.
• No offset onto the moistened chromatography paper.
• A small droplet of water did result in movement of the ink.  This test was also completed using a 50/50 mixture of deionized water/ethanol and the ink still moved.

TREATMENT PROPOSAL

• Remove pamphlet from acidic binder. (10 min.)
• Dry-clean as possible. (30 min.)
• Mend tears and fill losses as appropriate. (30 min.)
• Resew the pamphlet into a paper cover. (30 min.)
• Rehouse in a pambinder within an envelope. (30 min.)

Total Treatment Time Proposed: 2 hours 10 min.

TREATMENT PERFORMED

• Dry cleaned pamphlet with a soft brush. (15 min.)
• Removed the pamphlet from the acidic binder by cutting the stab sewing.  (10 min.)
• Removed larger rust accretions mechanically with a tungsten needle under magnification. (30 min.)
• Locally humidified creases along dog-eared corners with a small brush using a 50/50 deionized water/ethanol mixture.  Flattened humidified areas between Remay and blotter under small glass weights.  (1 hr.)
• Guarded the other folios of the spine folds using long fiber paper and wheat starch paste. (1 hr.)
• Mended tears, filled losses, reinforced weak dog-eared corners using a lightweight heat set tissue activated with heat. (1 hr.)
• Washed the first page of the pamphlet in two successive 10 minute deionized water baths.  Removed the lining with a microspatula while in the bath. (40 min.)
• Relined first page using lens tissue and wheat starch paste.  Dried under blotters and boards overnight.  (30 min.)
• Resewed the pamphlet using a stabbed three-hole pamphlet stitch, placing the knot at the back, and the original sewing holes. (30 min.)
• Hinged the first page onto the back of the first section with a long fiber paper and wheat starch paste.  (20 min.)
• Re-housed the pamphlet in a tuxedo box attached to a custom-made pamphlet binder. (2 hrs.)

Total Treatment Time: 8 hrs. 25 min.