I've done this type of restoration. You need a spray bottle and a lot of patience.
Spray the crumpled area until the cover is JUST damp, and gently pull it out. Let it dry, and repeat as many times as necessary. If you wet it too much, the stamp may come off and the writing may run.
When you're happy with the end result, press the cover as you would press soaked stamps.
Dialysis, damned if you do...dead if you don't 28 Apr 2019 04:10:28pm
re: Possible To Repair A Wrinkled Cover?
The cover above is not repairable without causing more damage to it. Yes, it could made to look 'better' by pressing it out some, but any introduction to moisture would negatively impact the paper.
Don
As I said, patience is key. I've only kept images of one example of this process, and it wasn't a valuable cover, nor terribly crumpled. However, the benefits are obvious.
Dialysis, damned if you do...dead if you don't 29 Apr 2019 03:20:39am
re: Possible To Repair A Wrinkled Cover?
‘Fixing a wrinkled cover’ is a controversial topic and so far this thread is glossing over the real issue here.
The truth here is that preservation, conservation, and restoration are NOT synonymous.
As good stewards of philatelic history, preservation and conservation are important. These approaches include maintaining the material in our temporary possession in a stable environment in order to minimize any additional deterioration.
But restoration means making permanent changes. As we have discussed before, personal property rights dictate that as owners we can do whatever we desire with what we own. This perspective includes lighting your cigar with a rare cover if you want.
But if we want to develop good stewards in our hobby, should we be recommending that others can make permanent changes to their covers?
And it is important to note that once a person ‘restores’ and makes permanent changes to a cover, they now have an ethical responsibility to make sure the cover is documented as repaired once it enters the marketplace. Yes, restoring a cover can make it look more attractive. But who here would want to buy a restored item without knowing that it had been restored? Restored items are dangerous in the marketplace if not documented properly. Restored items typically lower the value of a rare item.
I think it is important when we make recommendations in public forums to tell the complete story. It does not matter if the recommendation is ‘leave the stamps on paper’, 'use a modern adhesive', or ‘fix the wrinkled cover’; there are many folks reading these recommendations. We cannot count on them knowing the full picture and understanding all sides of the topic.
Don
nlroberts1961 12,8 cm Kanone 43 L/55 in blueprints only 29 Apr 2019 05:04:35pm
re: Possible To Repair A Wrinkled Cover?
Humidifying is more optimal than wetting it directly. A read through this article on paper treatments may give you some ideas on how to proceed. Your interest in the procedure or the value of the item will determine the limits you want to go and how much effort you want to put into it.
Silence in the face of adversity is the father of complicity and collusion, the first cousins of conspiracy.. 01 May 2019 07:19:12pm
re: Possible To Repair A Wrinkled Cover?
Despite all the scary warnings, I'd give light dampening a try.
But remember to only try to "Pull" one major wrinkle at a time,
in the reverse of how that wrinkle was created, just as better
auto repair shops pull out the dents in a crashed car. Patience
and thinking each step out in advance.
Let it dry thoroughly between steps, lest while pulling "East"
you tear a weakened ridge that needs to be pulled ever so
lightly "Southeast."
I never used an iron (steam) but if you try that after the ridges
are gone be careful what you use to protect the paper as a woven
cloth may impart a pattern onto the paper..
I have a couple of big, heavvvvvvvvvvvey Chemistry and Physics
books that I use to flatten difficult wrinkles by putting items
between pages and letting Mother gravity work her magic.
One last note, if you tug on the paper a little too hard and the
paper tears, no tears, just chalk it up to "RESEARCH !".
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".... You may think you understood what you thought I said, but I'm not sure you realize that what you think you heard is not what I thought I meant. .... "
'
Rather than pulling on a crease - after all, we're talking about old paper - I would try to pry open each fold, and work my way along the fold, squeezing with my gentle, dry fingers ... but that's me.
Further, remember that you do not need to do all of the straightening in one 'go'. If patience permits, I'd try a lighter weight (eg, a small paperback book) for a few days, giving the target a chance to relax, before piling on the bricks.
Cheers,
/s/ ikeyPikey
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