Questions on an Antique Victorian Photo Album

[Agent.Fang]

While browsing a local antiques store yesterday, I came across a Victorian photo album, believed to be from the 1890's and complete with 43+ photos, that I quickly purchased. While I find it fascinating to look at all the old pictures, I know little of Victorian albums, their proper care, or even what to do with it now that it is in my possession. I also know very little about dealing with antiques. So, I have a few questions for you:

 

• What would be the proper way to care for such a book? As it is very old, it already has a good amount of wear (which can be seen and explained further on the pictures below). Is it practical to air the book out, for it has a mild scent of metal (the front cover is solid metal of some sort) and mould.

• Would it be wise to restore the book? While the interior, pictures, and front cover are in relatively good condition, save for the smell and age, the green/silver/grey velvet back of the album is wearing greatly, as is the spine. The wear does not seem to affect it very much aside from looks, and the binding seems to be in good condition. While I plan of keeping this album, should I choose to sell it eventually (hypothetically speaking, let’s say it’s worth quite a shiny penny), how would restoring it effect its value?

• Where is an ideal pace to keep said book? I don't want it to wear any more than it has, so at the time it remains unmoved in the plastic sheath it was in when I bought it. Will lighting, heat, cold, dark places, etc. affect its condition?
   

• Is it worth taking to an appraiser? I am interested in learning more about it, if the time frame it was labeled as is correct, and what it's worth. However, as I have no intention on ridding myself of the book of the book currently, I wonder if it's just as well to not worry about having it professionally assessed at this time.

Here are some pictures of the photo album:

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

The Front of the book. It is solid metal with wooden designs  and gold detailing. It appears to be in relatively good condition.

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

This is the back of the book.  It’s a very worn velvet that appears to be a grayish silver. It also has tinges of green, but I don’t know whether the green is from it being aged, deterioration, if the velvet was once a silvery green.

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

The sides of the pages are very thick, and appear to have slightly worn gold gilding. There is also some wear along the side.

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This is a photo of the book’s spine. You can easily see a good deal of the wear, as well as the colour of the velvet. Please excuse my socks and cat in this photo.

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

And example of one of the pictures inside. Each of the pages are decorated with gold designs.

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Another page. Most of the pictures in the book seem to be well taken care of, with limited damage aside from age. Again, please excuse my cat, as she has a fondness for looking at old things and books.

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Another page. There are smaller photos held in the back of the book.

[Major Willoughby Chase]

Fixed that BBCode Zeppelin crash for you

Try

Code:

[url=http://i857.photobucket.com/albums/ab137/Agent_Fang/2011-05-08_02-38-30_306.jpg][img]http://i857.photobucket.com/albums/ab137/Agent_Fang/2011-05-08_02-38-30_306.jpg[/img][/url]

Instead of

Code:

[img]http://[url=http://i857.photobucket.com/albums/ab137/Agent_Fang/2011-05-08_02-38-30_306.jpg]http://i857.photobucket.com/albums/ab137/Agent_Fang/2011-05-08_02-38-30_306.jpg[/url][/img]

<snip>

Here are some pictures of the photo album:

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

The Front of the book. It is solid metal with wooden designs  and gold detailing. It appears to be in relatively good condition.

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

This is the back of the book.  It’s a very worn velvet that appears to be a grayish silver. It also has tinges of green, but I don’t know whether the green is from it being aged, deterioration, if the velvet was once a silvery green.

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

The sides of the pages are very thick, and appear to have slightly worn gold gilding. There is also some wear along the side.

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

This is a photo of the book’s spine. You can easily see a good deal of the wear, as well as the colour of the velvet. Please excuse my socks and cat in this photo.

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

And example of one of the pictures inside. Each of the pages are decorated with gold designs.

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Another page. Most of the pictures in the book seem to be well taken care of, with limited damage aside from age. Again, please excuse my cat, as she has a fondness for looking at old things and books.

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Another page. There are smaller photos held in the back of the book.

[Agent.Fang]

Thanks for the fix!

[Guinevere Meander]

OHHHH  Jealous!!!!

So.....

please go to a local paper supplier and storage store. They do have professional grade (museum-grade) storage boxes and acid free tissue paper.
A custom storage box can be commisioned and will be worth the efford, as it will prevent fading, fraying and shifting etc.
 
following things are very important from now on:

-wash hands EVERYTIME before you handle the album, as the oil on your hands will be an agressive agent to destroy the prints.
best suggestion: get cotton curator gloves..its worth it

-don't attempt to restore anything yourself, what is done by you, might be irreversable

-always store away from light

-only use high grade acidfree boxes and paper

-contact a local museum that has paper documents and photoes in it's possesion (ie historical societys, war museum, costume and fabric museum), they will have tips and are highly educated in ways of preservation etc.

-contact the museum first (free advice), then contact professional restorators ($$)

I have some VERY old papers in my possesion and some relatively new ones (embroidery patterns from ca 1900 in their original binder, but also the origional local newspaper (Fort Worth/Dallas) from the special /evening editions of the MLK, JFK and Bobby Kennedy assasinations. I never touch them with my bare hands, they are never exposed to sunlight and they are all stored in acidfree tissuepaper in professional boxes.
The newspapers are in bad shape, due to the way I found them, but at least they will not get worse from now on. I contacted the premiere museum in Dallas and they were just too happy to help me.

HTH
Lady Guin

[Agent.Fang]

Thanks so much for the advice! I definitely didn't think about the professional grade boxes to store it.

What about the mod/mildew that is probably currently on the book? Is there anything that can be done (professionally) to rid the book of the little beasties? Perhaps I should put that on my list of things to ask the museum when I give them a call/go down there.

Again, thanks so much for your help! 

[Guinevere Meander]

Agent Fang,
glad to be of help..

get the kitty away from the precious.....seriously LOL

call the proper museum, actually the Smithonian is good for this and just ask to be put through to the curators of the department that stores photos etc..they will be able to help you on the fly... don't seal the album in any kind of foil or plastic and dont dry it too quickly..

yes, mildew can me removed, but not totally..again, better wait for advice from the museum on this..
where in the US are You? local temps and humidity..overall temp in your home, closet etc all make a difference..in general...very modest humidity to prevent cracking and moderate temp in a dark location is generally best..at least for now.

seriously consider the box (after the restoration). For now leave it undisturbed in well ventilated area, away from cat hair and human contact and slowly "dry" it...does is feel cold to the touch or even damp, then it is too moist!
don't blowdry.....that can ruin the paper and may leave watermarks.

keep a wee bit of weight on it, such as a bigger, but light book, just to prevent warping...

I'M SOOO JEALOUS
..eyes glaze over....

[Agent.Fang]

I'm in Maryland, USA, and relatively close to all the museums in Washington (roughly a 45 minute drive). The weather is slightly humid, but very dry and cool in my house with a constant temperature of around 68F. I'll definitely be getting a box for it as soon as possible. The books so beautiful and I want it to stay that way.
 
The book doesn't feel cold to the touch, except on the front cover which is metal. Its currently sitting on an empyt table in the guest room that no one ever goes in, away from the animals and is well ventilated but dark area until I get the box for it. Kitties, humans, and automatons are not permitted anywhere near the book now. I'm also ordering curator gloves tomorrow, as well as giving the museum a call.

Perhaps the book has a twin. Then I shall definitely pick it up for you. 

[Guinevere Meander]

I'm in Maryland, USA, and relatively close to all the museums in Washington (roughly a 45 minute drive). The weather is slightly humid, but very dry and cool in my house with a constant temperature of around 68F. I'll definitely be getting a box for it as soon as possible. The books so beautiful and I want it to stay that way.
 
The book doesn't feel cold to the touch, except on the front cover which is metal. Its currently sitting on an empyt table in the guest room that no one ever goes in, away from the animals and is well ventilated but dark area until I get the box for it. Kitties, humans, and automatons are not permitted anywhere near the book now. I'm also ordering curator gloves tomorrow, as well as giving the museum a call.

Perhaps the book has a twin. Then I shall definitely pick it up for you.  

...breathing heavily....but away from the album....
In lieu of searching for a possible twin, may I humbly suggest the use of a "repeater-mechanotron", whenever they will bring it back through the most recently used time-portal?
Funny that I suggested the Smithsonian; I had no clue where You are.
I grew up with "old" stuff, so I rather go safe than sorry...just now bothered to read your profile...

[Agent.Fang]

I'll be giving the Smithsonian a call for certain. I really want to buy a box the the album right now, but as its 5 in the morning and I've yet to sleep, perhaps its best to wait a few hours until my brain isn't a bit wonky.

I do miss that mechanotron. It was ingenious when used on cookies.

Out of curiosity, was it common for photo albums in the 1890's to be decorated with a full metal front? I've been trying to do some research on the album, or type of book itself, and can not seem to find one similar in its making. There is a card with handwriting on it in one of the photo slots that might have some form of information on it, but I don't want to touch it until I can wear my gloves so I won't damage it.

[Guinevere Meander]

Try and look up these tomorrow after the brain is sane:

www.familyarchives.com/supplies
or
www.printfile.com
or
www.archivalmethods.com
or
www.archivalmethods.com

and finally
http://apps.webcreate.com/ecom/catalog/product_specific.cfm?ClientID=15&ProductID=23329

Back to the album...looks like you got one of the rather "high-end" and very expensive and elaborate versions. They were given to/bought by upper class/well-to-do couples after the wedding as a basis and primary album to picture a family-tree and the progression of the couples life.
Many contained extra pages to note dates of celebration,  ie wedding date, anniversay, birthdays etc in them aswell.
Many times the same photographer/studio was used for all the photos in the album over a period of many years.
One could purchase the album at the studio or get it in a speciality paper store or get it shipped from "the bigger city"
The elaborate cover, the guildwork and the thickness of the slide-pages (pocket-pages) attest to the money, care and pride of the owners.
The gray velvet on the back is most likely bleached from sun exposure, it would have been green or dark blue, sometimes a dark violet originally.
An album of this kind would have come in it's own box.
Regular folks at the time got hand bound albums with stiff cardbord outers and white or brown pages inside, sometimes seperated by vellum/sateen paper.

Now, sleep tight and please keep me posted, if You would be so very kind
Lady Guin

PS I will sail away on the aether-web while You are sleeping errm are occupied otherwise and will keep you posted on finds from voyages and lectures from near and far

[Agent.Fang]

My airship has returned from its long voyage and now that I have bought the gloves (they should be here tomorrow), I am looking over the links that you posted. Just read over environment control.

Thank you so much on the links, and all the information you have shared thus far! Wow, it seems that I may have come across a truly interesting album.

In looking for a proper museum-grade box to store it in, would you suggest anything in particular or are there any that you are more partial to? Will the weight of the album effect the type of box I get at all (it's a rather heavy book)?

[Guinevere Meander]

Hi, glad to see You back, as I'm ready to depart soon.
Don't buy a box just yet!
I know You want the album tight and together and keep it safe, but wait until you've spoken to the experts.

I can tell from the pics, that the book is heavy, but not too stable in it's spine.
Also, the more handling it will have, the more damage will be done as of right now.

My suggestion: keep the book in the guest room and leave it there undisturbed, if you can..
Get several large sheets of acid free paper and lay them cross-wise on a table, fold each sheet to the width of the album and place the album in the center..you should have strips running vertically and horizontally underneath the book 2 a piece, alternating.
like this:
1 layer: -
2 layer: I
so when you look from above it is like this : +
 
Place the album in the center and fold sheets over left and right onto the book and top and bottom onto the book...Boy, I really hope You get this convoluted description.
repeat again. (4 layers of 2 sheets)
the idea is, that the book is stabelized, but not air tight and is in a paper cradle, as You can lift it up just by lifting the paper from the left and right from the album and almost balance it.
It ensures, that the spine will not shift as the paper is almost like a mild splint.
Measure the dimensions of the album and weigh the album.
Contact all the websites and ask for their recommendation. Ask for free shipping, maybe they throw in free acid-free paper?
(I'm a sucker for free stuff and it never hurts to ask).
Remember with the dimensions for the box , that you will need more space inside than the dimension of the wrapped album, as You don't want to squish it in. Also, You need to have some air in the box, just not massive movement.
You can fold/crumble extra sheets into strips and cut into 4 pieces; they fit into the corners and work like wedges to stabelize the album. Put extra tissue on the bottom and extra on the top, but don't "tuck" it in.

When You call the museum, ask them where THEY get their boxes from and ask for a reference and/or recommendation.
Remember to always transport the box laying flat, never upright.

I think, You should also contact:


http://www.bookbindingandrestoration.com/?opc=2

and

www.kelmscottbookshop.com

and best of all

http://www.msa.md.gov/msa/stagser/s1259/103/conserv/html/services.html


That is all for right now, have fun calling all the folks and learning about your wonderful find.


Will You keep me posted?  

.....waiting with baited breath.......

Lady Guin

[Agent.Fang]

I'll definitely keep you posted! Going to call the museum soon and get more information when I get some free time between plundering.   

Maybe I'll start my own personal museum of victorian finds. 

[lady joanna]

If you can, I would take the plastic cover off it as this is very detrimental to the care of the book. You could also wrap or cover the book in cotton pillow cases to keep dust and light off it.

Try suppliers of wedding dress boxes. They are acid free to protect delicate fabrics :-)

Also of interest, I came across a beautiful purple leather bound photo album at a UK antiques fair, no bigger than 6inches square and they were asking 100GBP for it

[Agent.Fang]

The book is currently airing out in the guest room where no human, direct light, or animals will bother it. Surprisingly, the conditions of the room (in regards to temperature and humidity) are very similar to the ideal conditions that the curator told me when I called the museum the other day. Its laying atop a safe cotton cloth for now until I find a good sturdy box.

I didn't think of a wedding dress box. I'll definitely look at them. 

[Guinevere Meander]

Great to see that. So You got all the important questions answered, I assume? Did they tell You where they get their boxes from etc...Oh, please do tell!
Guin

[Agent.Fang]

Unfortunately, the woman did not tell me exactly where they got their boxes. I'm not sure that she knew the exact location. She did, however, suggest that since I am storing the book at home and possibly considering starting a collection over time, to set aside a drawer or chest for antiques. She aso suggested not to keep said antiques in the basement or attic, as the weather conditions would possibly harm textiles. While on the phone, I made a list of various points that she made, many of which seem to coincide with yours (You're awesome!  )

Points made by museum curator at the Smithsonian:

• Wrap in clean, white, cotton cloth or muslin. Textile fabrics need to be in an environment allowing air movement.
• Do not seal in air-tight pastic or container, as they wil increase moisture/condensation. Also some plastics give off fumes as they decompose over time.
• If putting in  plastic, it should be loosely encased in the unsealed plastic wrapping
• Best to store in a drawer on top, where it can not be damaged
• Store in the 65-70 degree F range, with humidity between 40-50%
• avoid ecessive drying
• regularly air & inspect to keep mildew and mohs away
• set aside a drawer or chest for antiques

She did suggest an adjustable, acid-free book box, and for it to be 4 ply.

She also gave me the number for the American Institute for Conservation of Historic & Artistic Works (AIC) if I had any more questions. A lot of what she said seemed to be already stated by our wonderful and steamy Guin, but it was nice to call the museum.


As a side note, while handling the book (with goves and face mask to be extra careful), I was able to take note of many of the photoraphers who took the photos. They seem to all be from around the east coast, ranging from New  Jersey to Virginia. One that I really took notice of was LoveJoy, as I've seen several other photographs from them over the years. F.T Castel was also on several of the photographs, as was Paul Tralles. I am thinking of doing more research on the photographers themselves at a later time.

[Guinevere Meander]

OHHH, I'm so glad it worked all out!!! Hussah and Horray!! I AM SOOO THRILLED FOR YOU!!!!! And thanks for the kudos *curstey with rosy cheeks*. I have come up with some more connections...please PM me and I can give further details on Thursday! (I'm on a different ship and am not able to reach my aether-ledger left at my main air-ship; stupid minions!    ;-)  Thank You again for the credit to have helped You!!! -my pleasure!!  Please note everybody: if You decide to use a cotton sheet and/or a pillow-case: the less detergent You use with optic brighteners...the less effect will it have on the actual fabric...some people don't think about this, but the detergents have optical brightners and bleach, which will adhere to the fabric. In "Agent.Fang"'s case to the velvets and might do more harm in a short period of time, than the light did to the velvet over time, but, I'm sure that the curator mentioned that! ......sorry to be THAT anal, as I mentioned to "Agent.Fang" before...rather safe than sorry...
Lady Guin    *waves hand* WOOOHOOO!

[Mercury Wells]

Agent Fang, I was wondering...have you checked for a stamp or mark (on the cover) to see who might have made or retailed the album?

[Agent.Fang]

Agent Fang, I was wondering...have you checked for a stamp or mark (on the cover) to see who might have made or retailed the album?

I have checked, and am unable to find anything of the sort.