1914 Coupon Soaking

[FrankWakefield]

It certainly will soak.

Initially, watch what you're doing. There might be water soluble ink or paint somewhere on the wood (we have no description of the wood from you); the ink would show up in the water... if that is happening, set the would piece in a large water pan or whatever you're using, and tilt that. Have constantly running water if you can manage that, so the ink in the water is constantly washing away. [This paragraph ONLY APPLIES if there's ink or paint on that board, bleeding into the soaking water. Don't let this paragraph scare you.]

Soak it for a while... maybe even a couple of days. Change the water a few times.

Try not to tear the card as your impatient self tries to peel it off of the wood. Soak longer, be patient.

I'm curious... is the card attached to a small piece of wood, bottom half of the card stuck to the wood? I once bought a T213 like that, the card was glued to the wood with a non-water soluble glue... I had no success soaking it off, but I also didn't damage the card more than it already was.

[PrewarCollective]

No wood. Just old cardboard that it’s glued to but it is completely glued. The entire back is covered by cardboard

[rhettyeakley]

1914 Coupons with the glossy coating will do terrible if soaked!

The coating on them will turn hazy and leave you with a terrible looking card when done. You find T210’s like that sometimes for the same reason.

You could try to soak from the back to loosen the paper but I would NOT advise a “full soak”submerged in water.

[RCMcKenzie]

Agree with Dave and Rhett. I tried soaking a T213-2 once, and it badly faded the card.

[PrewarCollective]

Originally Posted by RCMcKenzie

Agree with Dave and Rhett. I tried soaking a T213-2 once, and it badly faded the card.

Any ideas on removing cardboard that’s covering the entire back?

[RCMcKenzie]

Originally Posted by PrewarCollective

Any ideas on removing cardboard that’s covering the entire back?

Frank may know a way to do it. Maybe a hairdryer to the back?

I still have the Davis that I soaked. Here it is...

[rhettyeakley]

Originally Posted by RCMcKenzie

Frank may know a way to do it. Maybe a hairdryer to the back?

I still have the Davis that I soaked. Here it is...

Yeah that is exactly the “hazy” look I was talking about. It will forever be milky/hazy as a chemical reaction has changed the gloss on front.

[rhettyeakley]

If there is a way of removing the thickness of the cardboard slowly from the back side working towards the card without damaging the card itself…that is the way to go. Essentially reducing the cardboard to a thin sheet of paper attached to the back of the card then applying water directly to the back of the card to allow for the paste to be soluble in the water and breaking the bond by turning the solid paste back into a liquid phase would be the way to do it.

This will be very time consuming and difficult for even a trained/experienced restorer but is doable (depending on the paste/glue used)