A bath for Mr. Bresnahan?

[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

[Edwolf1963]

I agree with all previously - I would leave that one alone. I have had mixed results depending on the card stock and issues that pertained. Glue, pencil - fairly easy. Pen, tar, deeper stains like caramel or oils from CJ - more difficult.

As an example - attached are some backs of low end CJ's (combo of 14's and 15's) recently won. On the left (black background) before, to the right is after. Most of the glue and scrap book paper came out, but as you can see it created paper-loss as well on a couple. Obviously the intent isn't for grade bump as much as just eye-appeal and appreciation of the card as close to original as possible (IMO). Some clearly went well (Hummel), some not so much (Archer) - the Archer was too far gone w/all the glue and scrap book paper from the book it was in. Nothing but water and a Q-Tip. I heat the water as I feel that helps loosen foreign stains/materials better. Some use/recommend distilled water, I've been OK with tap.