Title: [Two Civil War Documents]
Published/Created: Late 19th C.
Owner: Private Client
Dimensions: H 39cm x W 26cm
Both objects consist of multiple paper items adhered to a thick ledger sheet as a secondary support. Object 1 includes five Confederate banknotes and one photographic print adhered to the recto, with a sixth banknote on the verso; most banknotes bear handwritten signatures in black and brown ink. Object 2 features a mix of Civil War–era military documents, an illustration, and a banknote, with printed text and illustration alongside handwritten inscriptions in black, brown, and red ink and graphite; its verso is blank.
Both objects had been stored rolled together, resulting in a persistent curvature. The adhered items on both are worn and fragile, with surface grime, discoloration, and numerous tears and small losses. On Object 1, the photograph is firmly adhered to the support and shows cracks and tears at the corners and edges. On Object 2, several fragments appear to have been attached to the support while already torn, as they are firmly adhered in their damaged state. Both secondary supports exhibit creases and small tears along the edges, with cockling caused by the strong adhesive attachment.
Both documents were humidified for 1 hour 20 minutes and dried and flattened under heavy weights, sandwiched between Hollytex, blotters, and felts under Plexiglas. Then the documents were surface-cleaned, and the support papers were removed by poulticing with 4% methylcellulose. Tears were mended with Tengujo and methylcellulose, and documents with a blank verso were lined with acrylic-toned Tengujo and methylcellulose. The photograph was lined with Uso Mino Thin and methylcellulose, with losses filled using acrylic-toned Uso Mino Thin and wheat starch paste.
Individual documents were humidified for 40 minutes, then dried and flattened as before. Once the final configuration and layout were determined with the client, each document was hinged to a 4-ply white mat board with four to five Uso Mino Thin v-hinges adhered with wheat starch paste.
