When this original WWI Liberty Bond Poster, “Blot it Out”, by J. Allen St. John, color lithograph on paper was first recovered, it was assumed that it was a total loss.
The rolled poster sat in water for three weeks, resulting in disfiguring water damage including severe discoloration, delamination from the mount and wrinkling throughout.
The poster was brought to our studio to confirm whether it could be salvaged or if it was indeed a loss. Given that the sheet was lined with a reversible adhesive and that it could be safely bathed, we confirmed that the poster could be successfully treated.
The sheet was first surfaced cleaned using dry methods to remove any loose soiling and accretions. The sheet was then bathed and freed from the old canvas backing. The remaining adhesive was carefully swabbed away from the verso. The print was then further bathed. 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.
Never assume that a piece is a loss, you may be surprised at what the potential results might be!
