Charles Conlon Fakes, Baseball Magazine Stickers & A Brief Tutorial

[Forever Young]

Originally Posted by Lordstan

I think the clean up debate is very interesting. I have often struggled with whether or not to not only clean up images, but even so far as whether to send for restoration. To Ben's point, if they are pieces of art, isn't it reasonable to clean and restore them? After all, if the art world is ok with cleaning and restoring Michelangelo's, The Last Supper, why wouldn't it be OK to clean and restore a photo that is far far less valuable?
I asked a similar question earlier this year about the 8x10 Burke photo I bought. The overwhelming response was to not restore it. So far I haven't as I am spending my money on photos, but I haven't fully decided.



What about this one? What would you do?

Mark,

I remember the thread about your photo. I believe I said or at least thought do not restore. Not because it wouldn't look awesome but because it would most likely cost a lot for your photo(more coupled with what you already purched it for than what it would be worth restored).

That said, the second photo you posted could probably be cleaned up by you at zero cost(at least get a lot of it off). That white looks like it might be water soluble and pec12 would prob take off some of the other things. Ironically, this was my photo that you purchased in hyee and I didn't remove at the time to gain money reselling I do it for me and let others decide for themselves.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/PEC-12-4OZ-F...item3ce20d77e7

[Lordstan]

Originally Posted by Forever Young

Scott,

I remember the thread about your photo. I believe I said or at least thought do not restore. Not because it wouldn't look awesome but because it would most likely cost a lot for your photo(more coupled with what you already purched it for than what it would be worth restored).

That said, the second photo you posted could probably be cleaned up by you at zero cost(at least get a lot of it off). That white looks like it might be water soluble and pec12 would prob take off some of the other things.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/PEC-12-4OZ-F...item3ce20d77e7

Ben,
Thanks for the link. I was about to ask what people used to remove the grease pencil, etc. I assume, that will take off the water soluble stuff as well?
Mark

[drcy]

I don't mind the ink, crop marks and gunk being removed from across photos. That stuff can be unsightly and masks the photo image. I can see why people do that.

If this were my Greta Garbo photo, I could see removing the grease pen crop marks.



Though I do admit I have a big thing against trimming. Call it a personal bias if you wish.

[drcy]

Duly note that I commented about the type system because someone specifically asked me a question about the type system in this thread. I posted about trimming because people were talking about trimmed photos. Whether or not they were off the subjects topics, I didn't start either topic.

Besides, half of what I post is off topic. Everyone knows that.

[Runscott]

Okay, so we know why thieves add stamps to the back of a good Conlon print - in this case to 'assure' the buyer that it was a real Conlon, but why did 'the real' Charles Conlon add stamps, and what was the purpose of each particular stamp he used? (Same for his signatures)

It seems a bit random, and maybe that is the answer.

[Econteachert205]

The stamps were a form of copyrighting? Since he no doubt traveled a lot he probably had several stamps and lost some, kept a few at the office etc. just my guesses.

[Runscott]

Originally Posted by Econteachert205

The stamps were a form of copyrighting? Since he no doubt traveled a lot he probably had several stamps and lost some, kept a few at the office etc. just my guesses.

My question is why he applied stamps to some prints, and not to others, and why he chose a particular stamp for a particular photo. It could be that he only had one stamp at a time - I have misplaced Henry's book, which might have the answer.

[thecatspajamas]

I've always been under the assumption that most photographers' stamps were 1) to help ensure they got paid when the photo was used and 2) as a form of advertising should anyone happen to like the photo and want to purchase additional prints.

At least two of the stamps also feature his mailing address, which changed as he moved, which would explain those changes.

Added: Henry's book shows 3 varieties, 2 of which have an address and are dated to the 1910's. The example of his Englewood NJ addressed stamp also shows his New York addressed stamp scribbled out, so presumably he moved from New York to New Jersey at some point in the 1910's. He also shows the "Evening Telegram" variety which he dates to 1912 (I guess he only used it for 1 year?) He was active up through the 1930's though, so I don't know how he stamped his work in those last 2 decades (I've not researched it myself, so this is all from the book or assumptions based on it).

[Forever Young]

Originally Posted by Lordstan

Ben,
Thanks for the link. I was about to ask what people used to remove the grease pencil, etc. I assume, that will take off the water soluble stuff as well?
Mark

The ink and dirt can be removed by pec-12(not water based stuff). The efficient with water soluble stuff (use.. well.. warm water cloth). There is some grease that I do not touch.. can't remove(I don't have the patience for). Your second photo(that I owned) you can def improve the look yourself if you wanted to.

[Leon]

Rhys and Ben,
Thank ya'll so much for sharing this information with the community. It's appreciated by all.

[Econteachert205]

Is this an example of good photo bad stamp? It is blue I believe.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Eddie-Collin...item3ce8cb2d62

[drcy]

For the record, I've found Rhys's and Ben's posts on the Conlon stamps informative. I've learned from them. It's a good thing for the hobby that this info has been posted.

[thecatspajamas]

Ditto. Haven't been able to jump into the discussion b/c of work/family time, but really enjoy this kind of informative thread. Thanks guys.

[Runscott]

Originally Posted by Econteachert205

Is this an example of good photo bad stamp? It is blue I believe.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Eddie-Collin...item3ce8cb2d62

Dennis, all of the blue ones are bad. I don't say that from my personal knowledge, but from what Ben tells me - in my experience he has never been wrong about anything related to photo stamps. I suspect he has never been wrong about anything in his life As a 3-yr old: "Mom, it is 'bascetti' - I'll let you know when the correct pronunciation changes. Meanwhile, just get the sauce finished - I'm hungwy."

[prewarsports]

Stamp is bad on the Collins but I suspect the photo is authentic to the 1910's and possibly a Conlon anyways, the added blue stamp probably wasn't needed in that case!

Rhys