Two Romantic Prints

I was hoping I could look at extreme closeups, which can be very telling although not always conclusive. Without them, it's pretty difficult to tell.

Is that the back of the print or the frame? If it's the print, then it looks like it's mounted on a board?

 

Its the back of the print.
It was mounted on the cardboard in a weird way, I have not seen before.
I can try close up shots if you can be specific about the spots

 

The frames:

 

That looks like mold on the backing paper/boards and could be on the frame, too. If it were mine, I'd toss them. If it's on the prints as well, that will seriously impact any value they had.

 

Of course. I removed the prints from filthy frames before I got back home. I just wanted to show you the way it was framed

 

Ah, glad to hear there isn't mold on the prints. The frames did look old to me.

 

I dont know if its possible but surface of frames looks like plastic, but when scratched its plaster

 

I don't know much about the composition of older frames. Other members may know.

 

I'd say turf the frames. They're not worth restoring and they're not going to help a sale. You might try a pencil eraser to clean up the print borders. Try a little spot as a trial and, if it works, proceed with care, stopping frequently to examine the results.

I downloaded the close-up of the man's head. (Looks like the same man and woman in both prints.) When I tried various enlargements of that detail, there was a size where a moire pattern became evident. That suggests to me interference between 2 unaligned grids, possibly the pixels in the photo conflicting with a dot matrix on the print? Even knowing the printing process is not likely to help with dating the prints as the processes were available over a very long period, starting well before 1905.

 

MOS, with my prints, I most often get a moire pattern in my jpegs with etchings or lithographs of etchings. That's why I was asking about patterned lines visible under a loupe.

Makanudo, if you do want to try an eraser, I get the best results with kneaded and gum erasers. They're both geared to use on artwork and don't leave stains or damage the paper.

 

I downloaded the close-up of the man's head. (Looks like the same man and woman in both prints.)
I am sure that the man is same. Probably illustrations from one particular book. I now have to start searching for list of books published by Stokes 1905-1908 in order to find a book
Regarding cleaning, , I really hesitate to try it

 

I dont have very positive experience with altering old paper things... I shall see
Thanks

 

Hi,
If you do not want to hurt the paper do not use an eraser. The center part of a slice of bread (the white part) rubbed gently over the paper will remove a lot of dirt. Just replace it a lot. It is the one good thing that cheap white bread is good for. When I have a paper item that needs some attention I use Wonder Bread. It is cheap, works well and is not worth eating.
greg

 

Thanks Greg!

 

Thanks Greg!

 

Greg, have you ever tried a kneaded or gum eraser? They really are gentle, and a kneaded eraser works the way you describe what white bread does. I'd actually worry a bit about using any food substance... I'd think it could leave minute traces that could attract insects.

I don't see a new download? The images I've seen so far aren't blown up enough to tell anything about the printing process. If your camera can't do macro-level closeups, you could try shooting through a loupe or magnifying glass.

 

Hi Pat,
I have tried the erasers but on a fixed income I find I get better results with the bread ball. I brush them off pretty good and been lucky about the insects. I have not done it with pieces that I just stored away. Usually I re matt and reframe the pieces.
greg

 

Ah, I guess sealed up it wouldn't be a problem. I know what you mean about a fixed income... we're mostly in that boat now.

 

Pat P,
The first line in my quoted post is part of a quote of MOS post. I tried to quote him but it didnt work well. I went away on a buisness trip today and I wont be able to make new photos of those until Wednesday