Because paper collectibles are sometimes not as pristine as we'd like, here are a few tips you may find useful in getting the most enjoyment out of yours!


Pencil Marks: As long as they're not too deeply impressed, these can usually be removed with little or no trace using a white eraser most commonly sold at art supply stores.  These are manufactured both in Japan and Germany at this time, and usually have a heavy paper label wrapped around the middle with the white eraser sticking out at each end.  They work much better than the gum-types. In using this eraser, use light pressure and always stroke towards the page edge, or support the papery by having two fingers spanning any spot you're trying to remove. This will prevent tearing on all but the thinnest of papers. NEVER use Pink Pearl or other colored erasers, which usually smear badly!

Tears: Most adhesive tape sold in stores will leave a stain in time.  At the very least, they will be easily visible, and therefore unsuited to sealing tears in places where they'll show.  We use a product called Filmoplast-P, which is available from professional archival suppliers like Brodart and Light Impressions Direct, and some art supply stores.  It's a bit spendy, but leaves a nearly invisible, archival-quality repair that will never stain!

Stains: Dampstains and foxing spots are unsightly.  If you have a print, or other single sheet collectible that has such a problem, you might try the following.  Begin by testing an inconspicuous area to make sure that the printed image inks are water-fast and won't bleed. Once you're satisfied that this is true, then proceed with the following.

Use 1-2 Tbsp. of Purex bleach per quart of cool water in a clean, glass baking dish.  For larger pieces, your clean bathtub will work, with a proportionate adjustment of the amount of bleach with respect to the volume of water.  After testing an inconspicuous area for color fastness, immerse the entire piece, not just part of it.  With occasional gentle aggitation of the water, leave in this bath for 5-30 minutes, depending upon how stubborn the stain is, and then rinse 5-10 minutes each in several changes of fresh cool water.  This will occasionally even bleach-out fountain pen ink!  Dry to just-barely damp between paper towels, then finish by pressing it all between sections of newspaper.  Keep the paper towels between the newspaper and your print, smoothing out any wrinkles, or substitute any other clean paper of appropriate size, and finish drying for several hours weighted-down with books, bricks or your helpful neighborhood elephant.  

NOTE: This is not for the faint of heart! Use at your own risk!  This said, however, this exact technique has been useful for us when faced with a piece that just wasn't ever going to look right the way it was.

Enjoy!