Mounting of Linen backed 1940 Olympics poster

[An Old Master]

linen backing is a really specialist job

and no my understanding is it doesnt devalue

Then your understanding is misinformed. An item is cosidered to be devalued if it is stuck down. As has been pointed out elswhere, the poster has lasted this long because it is stuck to linen - and that should give a clue to the compexities of arguments regarding conservation issues. And believe me, you don't want to get me started on that one.

[An Old Master]

If it hadn't been stuck to linen, chances are it would not be here today. Posters aren't meant to last, cheapest paper and cheapest inks. So linen mounting, while it does 'alter' the item permanently does preserve it.

If you are talking preserving a 'rare' item, the best thing to do is pack it in acid-free tissue and put between to stout boards and put it under the bed. As soon as you decide to display it, with the best will in the world you are compromising it to some extent.

Nice post.

[markw]

http://www.ivpda.com/cgi-local/content.cgi?p=5&s=4 might clear up what is the considered practice.

[Tudor Rose]

Excellent article MarkW and very useful for future reference

[An Old Master]

http://www.ivpda.com/cgi-local/content.cgi?p=5&s=4 might clear up what is the considered practice.

...From a firm that sell vintage posters - hardly the British Library or Library of Congress is it?

[markw]

you're right - what would they know?

[An Old Master]

you're right - what would they know?

How to sell 'Vintage' posters for a start.

[stcstc]

pete is there research somewhere that shows that the accepted practice of linen backing devalues the posters?

if i am mis informed can you show me where to look to understand better please

[An Old Master]

I'm sure you're perfectly capable of doing the research yourself, but the FATG or a GCF test might be a reasonable place to start.

[stcstc]

cant see anything in the current GCF study guide which is specific to posters. i had already looked when you said i was mis informed

the reason i asked you to point me in the right direction is as you said earlier disagreement doesnt mean its right

so was wanting you to back up you statement and show me research or comon practice which says specifically posters being linen backed are devalued by the process

[Trinity]

Do you think it's a paer print that someone has stuck to linen or was it made like that. if your using a mount and the piece is not too weighty consider sewing it to an undermount and then taping over the thread with a reversable tape.

[markw]

The linen backing will take a hinge adhesive attachment - however you want to do it. Attached to the backing board of the mount as you would any other hinge mounted print of value. The linen will help to stabilise the poster and keep it flat.

[prospero]

One thing that needs stating re. all the de-valuing stuff. It's a 'collectable' item and worth whatever someone is willing to pay. As with all stuff of this ilk, it is the condition that reflects the value. If it had not been mounted on linen it would be worth a lot less because it would likely have fallen to pieces years ago.

Generally, altering a unique and irreplaceable item counts as 'mutilation'. But relining an old and fragile oil painting is common practice and in cases like that it's restoration rather than mutilation.

[easypopsgcf]

Or preservation rather than restoration, in this case?

[An Old Master]

cant see anything in the current GCF study guide which is specific to posters. i had already looked when you said i was mis informed

the reason i asked you to point me in the right direction is as you said earlier disagreement doesnt mean its right

so was wanting you to back up you statement and show me research or comon practice which says specifically posters being linen backed are devalued by the process

By anyone's standards it is stretching credibility to breaking point to ask for specific mention of linen lined 1940s posters. I've just worked on an extremely delicate letter hand written by a famous statesman in the 1930s and stuck it to 100% cotton board with methyl cellulose. I couldn't find any specific reference for that either, but the customer wanted it preserving and sticking it to museum board was the best method of strengthening it for the purpose required. I could have sent it for Barrow Laminating, but the cost would have been prohibitive and would not have been exactly what my customer wanted.

[stcstc]

pete sorry but what i was asking for was for you to back up your statement where you said i was misinformed that linen backing posters will devalue them

as you can see from other posts, it is an accepted practice for preservation of these cheap posters

antique letters have noting to do with the point, more that pure methyl cellulose

the point is if your saying i am wrong, back it up with research from somewhere

[markw]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Barrow_(chemist)
Think the original question was about mounting - laminating seems to have gone off topic. It seemed to me to be the function of this forum for someone to be fairly specific in their question and receive back friendly and hopefully informative replies.

[An Old Master]

pete sorry but what i was asking for was for you to back up your statement where you said i was misinformed that linen backing posters will devalue them

as you can see from other posts, it is an accepted practice for preservation of these cheap posters

antique letters have noting to do with the point, more that pure methyl cellulose

the point is if your saying i am wrong, back it up with research from somewhere

The point about the letter was to show that there was no specific 'research' to cover that either and specific mention is what you were asking for. If you are unfamiliar with conservation practises then I suggest you research the subject more.

[prospero]

Framing is a bit like Football.


It's a funny old game.

[An Old Master]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Barrow_(chemist)
Think the original question was about mounting - laminating seems to have gone off topic. It seemed to me to be the function of this forum for someone to be fairly specific in their question and receive back friendly and hopefully informative replies.

Barrow Laminating is a misleading title and is not laminating as is normally associated with dry mounting - it would perhaps be better described as 'impregnation'. I used the example to illustrate that there are perhaps more solutions to a problem than might first be apparent. Therefore I do not consider this could be called thread drift. I am well aware of the function of this or any other forum and rather disappointed at your suggestion that any part of it is not friendly. I trust the rest is informative.