This original 1918, WWI Liberty Bond Poster, “Keep these off the USA”, by John Warner Norton, color lithograph on paper was recovered by our disaster response team. It was discovered in a water logged trunk between acidic board.
The poster was still wet when it was discovered and needed to be carefully transported to our studio.
Our team began to triage the print as soon as the collection arrived to our studio. The poster had been previously lined with a reversible adhesive. Upon arrival, the poster had already begun to delaminate from the lining. The water staining was severe, with the right half of the poster stained.
The sheet was carefully bathed to free the sheet from the rest of the compromised backing. The remaining adhesive was carefully swabbed away from the verso. The print was then bathed in a stabilized peroxide to reduce the discoloration within the sheet. The tears were mended and then the sheet was relined. Minor retouching was undertaken to further integrate small, distracting areas of pervasic staining.
When works on paper, prints, drawings, lithographs, etchings, etc are damaged from a water or fire loss; it is important to consult a conservator. Paper can be more resilient than most would think. There are a variety of conservation options available to preserve the artwork, documents, ephemera and restore their inherent value.
At times, conservation efforts to treat claim related damage may also address pre-existing issues, such as acid burn and degredation as part of the claim related treatment, which in turn, can even provide a betterment for the piece.
Given the extent of the damage, the timely response and recovery helped mitigate further damage to the poster as well as ensure a successful treatment. We assist with the recovery of collections and specialty items, every step of the way, from the initial onsite inventory, documentation, packing, pick up, assessment, treatment, return delivery and installation.
If you need assistance, contact us at 312-344-0331.
