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 Post subject: Different kind of railway preservation question
PostPosted: Sat Aug 24, 2013 8:01 am 

Joined: Mon Aug 23, 2004 2:28 pm
Posts: 444
Hello readers,

I have a print/poster by O. Winston Link, which was signed by him (bought it from him at a train show in Jersey City years ago). While framed, the signature has faded considerably. Preservation question: is it acceptable to have a legitimate entity (however one defines that) restore, to any degree, the signature?

Yes, there are entities out there which will do this, but thus far the reading I've done discourages the practice.

I'm not interested in doing this for resale purposes, but to preserve the memory of meeting this fine gentleman.


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 Post subject: Re: Different kind of railway preservation question
PostPosted: Sat Aug 24, 2013 9:12 am 

Joined: Thu May 24, 2012 1:37 pm
Posts: 2213
Let me ask this a different way: If you collected coins, and parts of the 'strike' were worn, would it decrease the value if you had somebody 'restore' the worn portions with a little careful engraving?

Perhaps a less obvious example: after Loewy signed the 4935, should the signature have been periodically 'refreshed' or even re-done in paint? Should it have been made into a stencil and applied to other GG1s in the remaining fleet (something, BTW, that I thought should have been considered... ;-})

The thing that provides the value is Link's original signature, not a graphical rendition of his signature. In my opinion, when anyone 'goes over' that to 'restore' it, you destroy the originality, in which resides the value of that signature to many, probably most, potential purchasers -- even if they take your word for it that there was, in fact, an original signature under the new pigment.

I would strongly discourage any tinkering with the signature -- just tell your prospective buyers that it's faded -- and refer THEM to the 'entities out there' if they want a nice dark siggie after they've bought it.

Now, a gallery owner or sales agent might well give you other advice, as their interest (and perhaps commission) might hinge on a clear signature. But that is not at all a 'preservation' question.

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R.M.Ellsworth


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 Post subject: Re: Different kind of railway preservation question
PostPosted: Sat Aug 24, 2013 9:43 am 

Joined: Sun Aug 22, 2004 7:25 pm
Posts: 2329
Location: The Atlantic Coast Line
Is the image framed with UV glass? That may help slow the fading. Otherwise I agree with leaving it alone.

Wesley


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 Post subject: Re: Different kind of railway preservation question
PostPosted: Sat Aug 24, 2013 9:44 am 

Joined: Sun Aug 22, 2004 7:58 am
Posts: 728
I would conserve the print, but definitely not have it restored. Above all, protect it from UV light and environmental fluctuations.

However, you might be able to scan it and digitally restore the signature by tinkering with contrast and such- this detail could be legitimately be displayed along with the original print, to highlight it.

Steve Hunter


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 Post subject: Re: Different kind of railway preservation question
PostPosted: Sat Aug 24, 2013 5:53 pm 

Joined: Wed Oct 22, 2008 8:18 pm
Posts: 2226
I would have it digitally scanned and enhanced like that then view the copy and put the original in safekeeping.

That way you could enjoy the image.

the only way to keep the originality of the signature is a specialist to identify the ink, and very carefully re-ink the signature carefully, but then you have the same aging problem...so better leave it, it will still be there.


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 Post subject: Re: Different kind of railway preservation question
PostPosted: Sat Aug 24, 2013 10:35 pm 

Joined: Sun Oct 19, 2008 12:58 pm
Posts: 1346
Location: Chicago USA
No, don't tamper with it at all. Do what you can to prevent further deterioration and by all means document it with photography or scanning but leave the original original.

That is, if you want to preserve the VALUE. If you don't care, well, then maybe give Celia Gimenez a call. She does fine work. LOL

http://arrestedmotion.com/wp-content/up ... -1243p.jpg

Steve


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