one would hopefully go
to a paper conservator. Conservation as opposed to restoration allows that the item can be brought back to the state it was in before repairs were made. We are only temporary keepers of all this stuff - I prefer to leave things for the next guy in the same condition I got it in :-) Conservation IS expensive in general - depends how much "conservation" one wants done - the amount of damage and - how close to the item you want to stand without seeing that damage? I've had work done here in Florida and in the past by someone Bill Mastro recommended to me in the mid 1990's - Chicago Conservation Company. I negotiated a bit as I sent 3/4 pieces and was flexible as to a time frame and I think they did a superior job. I've only conserved/restored 5/6 items that would be either aesthetically unpleasing or degrade without intervention. The occasional minor bumps and tears are part of the items life - I don't want to look at something old that looks like it's new quite frankly so I leave much of what I buy the way it is. I'm no longer willing to buy sumptin dat doesn't display well and I would have trouble looking at unless it's REALLY rare - as the expense and the decisions about how far to go and the insurance and the shipping- well it gets a bit much. Whatever you do I think the most long term enjoyment is derived from any hobby by patience and forethought about ones actions whether it's the care, purchase, display or storage of these silly things we tend to fall in love with...........
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