Cathedral de Mejico, lithograph, date unknown

Before Treatment

Overall

Details

During Treatment

After Treatment

Overall

Details

TREATMENT PROPOSAL/AUTHORIZATION FOR TREATMENT

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
To improve the visual appearance.

DESCRIPTION
General        
13 7/8 in x 20 1/8 in (351cm x 513 cm) (primary support)
10 1/4 in x 15 1/2 in (26.8 cm x 40 cm) (image area)

The lithograph is printed in black ink on handmade paper.

Media

Black Printing Ink

The lithograph is printed in a even, matte, black ink.

Black Stamp Pad Ink

A 1.5 x 3/4 inch black ownership stamp appears in the upper left corner of the verso.

Graphite

A cataloguer’s annotation is lightly written in graphite on the lower left corner of the recto.

Primary Support
The primary support is a thick, moderately textured, cream-colored piece of handmade wove paper.  The pulp distribution is regular and the edges of the sheet are cut straight. The paper appears to be smoother in the middle and rougher along the edges, this may be a result of the printing process.    

CONDITION

General

The print is in fair condition overall.

Media
Black Printing Ink

The printing ink is in good condition with no sign of loss or abrasion.

Graphite

The graphite is in fair condition with minor loss and smearing.

Black Stamp Pad Ink

The ink is in good condition with no signs of fading or abrasion.

Primary Support
The primary support is in good condition overall.  There is a light layer of surface grime on both the recto and verso, with heavier concentrations around the edges. The paper has darkened and yellowed to a beige color.  A light brown stain appears in the right corner of the verso and three dark brown stains appear along the left edge of the image area on the recto of the paper.

There are five edge tears and three losses along the edges of the paper that extend into tears.  None of the tears or losses extend into the image area.

Housing
The print is housed in a good quality folder.

PHOTODOCUMENTATION
Digital photographs were taken before and after treatment in ambient, raking, and transmitted 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
  • The ink displayed no particulate offset.  No dye offset was observed after contacting the chromatography paper with the ink for 10 seconds.  There was no visible change with the addition of a small water droplet.
• Graphite
  • The graphite displayed minimal particulate offset.  Minimal particulate offset was visible after contacting the chromatography paper with the graphite for 10 seconds. 
•  Black Stamp Pad Ink
  • The ink displayed no particulate offset.  No dye offset was observed after contacting the chromatography paper with the ink for 10 seconds.  There was no visible change with the addition of a small water droplet.

TREATMENT PROPOSAL

• Test for media solubility and sinking. (20 min.)
• Dry-clean as possible. (10 min.)
• Wash as possible. (20 min.)
• Mend tears and fill losses as appropriate. (1 hr.)
• Return to original housing.

Total Treatment Time Proposed: 1.5 hours

TREATMENT PROCEDURE

• Tested media for solubility and sinking. (45 min.)
• Dry cleaned both sides with medium and then fine grain Mars Staedtler Eraser crumbs. Dry cleaned remaining accretions with a Magic Rub eraser. (30 min.)
• Washed in three 5 minutes baths of deionized water with a drop of a saturated calcium hydroxide solution. Dried between blotters and boards. (20 min.)
• Mended with 4:1 Zin Shofu Japanese precipitated wheat starch paste and Manila hemp lens tissue. (1 hr. 15 min)
• Applied toned fills with wheat starch paste and four thicknesses of a Japanese Kozo tissue. (40 min.)
• Rehoused in a lignin free folder of appropriate size.

Length of Treatment: 3.5 hours