A bath for Mr. Bresnahan?

[Bestdj777]

If they are not stuck to a scrap book, I see little reason to soak it. This is a nicely looking, gently loved card.

[Leon]

I would leave it alone too.

[Bridwell]

It could be risky to soak this one. The slight paper loss on the front and the rough edges could get worse if soaked. It looks to me like it has already been soaked once. Doing it further is probably not going to help.

[drmondobueno]

Originally Posted by Bridwell

It could be risky to soak this one. The slight paper loss on the front and the rough edges could get worse if soaked. It looks to me like it has already been soaked once. Doing it further is probably not going to help.

+1

[brob28]

Thanks for all the input guys, I appreciate it. Ron, (or anyone) was just wondering what makes you think the card has been soaked already? I don't mind if it has been, but would love to learn more.

Thanks guys,

[T206Collector]

There is no reason to soak this card. You can tell it may have been exposed to moisture by the way the card's edges look -- somewhat bloated and frayed.

I do not think much harm would come with a minute water soaking followed by a press between two sheets of printer paper, under a stack of books (how I have done it in the past). But you are not going to make it look any cleaner.

[steve B]

I'd leave it alone as well.

The front could possibly take a light surface cleaning, but the back would be damaged by most attempts since the cardboard is porous. The fronts are coated for printing, but the backs aren't.

Once cleaned on the front you'd have a mismatch between front and back that would look odd.

Here's about as far as a light surface cleaning can get.
Before, grubby front from probably decades in a paper bag in an attic. With another card on top of about half of it. But the back was very clean. (SC 350-460 F25)



After, Just a light cleaning with water and a q-tip. I thought I might have wrecked it, but the light area on the neck is the actual color. I should have done a bit more, but I stopped and didn't compare it to online scans.
The surface still holds some dirt in the usually invisible cracks in the surface coating.
And yes, I was very surprised at the grade. I'd hoped for a 40.
And no, I'm not cracking it out to finish the cleaning. I don't think it would benefit much, and going further is both risky and borderline inappropriate.

Steve B