Ways/Techniques to Make Illegible Name Legible From Quill Pen and Ink 19th Century.

Hi Antiquer Team,

Are there services or techniques to make an illegible signature legible? It appears to be from the 19th Century. Quill pen most likely with the style of writing, on wood.

Suggestions on how to pull the name clearer?! Or any reference material to help my research is welcome.

Thank you in advance for the help.

 

Hi,
Try using an ultraviolet light on it. It may show up.
greg

 

a police lab could use the technique they use to raise numbers of a filed down fire arm......
if ya wanna go that route !

 

Interesting! What is that science process called?!

 

raising the serial number..............but i think it involves acid......

 

I believe that process is for use on metal rather than wood.

 

I believe the best, and safest, methods involve manipulating a high quality digital image with software such as Photoshop, where you can vary contrast in a variety of ways. Photographing under different light sources (UV, IR) can also provide more information, but requires specific filters.

https://siarchives.si.edu/what-we-d...-resources/help-making-documents-more-legible

 

Awww...that's no fun !!

 

A bit more on that theme...

Shoot a couple of more photos. If you can adjust the brightness/ darkness, make it a bit darker. Try direct sun and incandescent light sources. Avoid glare. Find the best angles that brings out what you need to see. You may need more than just one angle. These images can be adjusted in photoshop-like program and some of the details may be enhanceable.

James.

CarrieL
PS: use the example that you've provided as a poor example. You will need to start off with an image that looks a good as it can be, or that you can obtain. Also remember the upload limit of under 1mb, just keep it as high as you can.

 

if there is any indent left by the pressure...maybe dust it....like for fingerprints...with some baby powder..??????

 

I'd take pictures before applying any substance on the surface.

This is an example of what can be seen with the original image.

 

hey, let's go nuts !

 

Not sure this actually helps, but the best two from retroreveal...

 

I wasn’t, but then a few days before I went in the hospital, it actually started screaming (literally!!) at me, so back it went....supposed to be coming back on Monday!! For me, I find my iPad, not all that much help.....

 

Who else here uses Photoshop.....try inverting it, then playing with the light/dark to bring up the contrast......someone else does, I know!!!!

 

Here is a better one from me. Please all the help is welcome. I think this pic can take us farther!

See attached.