Preservation and Care of Philatelic Materials
Subsidiary Page
28
Conservation Materials
Japanese and Oriental Papers: The best of these papers
are made from Kazo and Mulberry leaves. They are long-fibred and strong, and can be
handmade or machine made. They are used for repair or backing paper. AVAILABLE
FROM: The Japanese Paper Place, University Products of Canada, Woolfits, Talas, Aiko's
Art Materials.
Handmade Papers: Made by hand using cotton or rag
pulp. They have a deckel edge and chain or laid lines. Used for end papers, repairs, and
backing paper. AVAILABLE FROM: Woolfits, University Products of Canada, Talas,
Opus
Frarning.
Tissue Paper: This is available in acid-free format,
buffered
or unbuffered, with smooth or textured surface. It comes in sheets or rolls. Used for
lining,
interleaving, and wrapping. AVAILABLE FROM: Conservation supply houses.
Blotting Paper: An acid-free absorbent paper.
Use white only. Available in various sizes and thicknesses. Used for paper repairs,
drying, or flattening wet papers. AVAILABLE FROM: Conservation supply houses,
art supply dealers, paper suppliers.
Mylar: An inert clear polyester film, free from
plasticizer, surface coating, and ultraviolet inhibitors. Use S or D type only.
Available in various thicknesses from 0.0005 inch to 0.014 inch. Thicknesses 0.001
to 0.004 (one to four mils) are most suitable for philatelic purposes. Manufactured
by Transilwrap of Canada or Dupont. (Mylar is a registered name of Dupont.)
Starch Paste: A highly purified wheat or rice starch
base
is used to make this paste. Must be mixed with water and cooked. It has great strength,
excellent ageing properties, a neutral pH, and is reversible. A negative factor is that the
shelf life of prepared paste is limited. AVAILABLE FROM: Art stores, conservation
supply houses.
Methyl Cellulose Adhesive: A granular powder to be
dissolved in water to produce a neutral pH, reversible adhesive. The shelf life of the
prepared adhesive is unlimited. Manufactured by Dow Chemical. AVAILABLE FROM:
conservation supply houses.
Jade 409 Emulsion : A polyvinyl acetate emulsion (PVA)
that contains no acetate. It has a neutral pH, dries fast, is long lasting, and forms a
transparent flexible film. AVAILABLE FROM: Talas, conservation supply houses.
Magic Rub; SKUM-X : Made by Faber Castell, Magic
Rub comes as an erasing block or peel-off pencil. SKUM-X (Dietzgen) is an erasing
powder. These materials are recommended for surface dry cleaning of paper.
AVAILABLE FROM: art and drafting supply stores.
pH Pen : A sensitive marker, manufactured by Abbey.
A chlorophenol red indicator solution turns a definite purple color on any paper with a pH
of 6.5 and above. Unfortunately, the mark is permanent, so this should be used with
caution. AVAILABLE FROM: University Products of Canada, conservation supply
houses.
pH Pencil : Insta-Chek a set of 5 pencils which
indicate pH. Moisten the surface with distilled water, mark the spot with the
pencil, wait a few seconds, and compare the color with the pH indicator chart.
Users are warned that these, like pH pens, leave a permanent mark. AVAILABLE FROM:
University Products of Canada, conservation supply houses.
Morocco: A vegetable tanned goatskin leather
having a grained patter. It can be purchased in a range of colors and textures.
It is used for covering books and albums in bookbinding. AVAILABLE FROM: Talas,
Hewitt and Sons Ltd., Russell Bookcrafts, bookbinding suppliers.
Calf : Similar to Morocco, but made from calfskin. It
has a smooth surface, but is thicker than Morocco. Use and availability is the same as for
Morocco.
Buckram : A cloth made from closely woven cotton or
linen, impregnated with pyroxylin. Use and availability is the same as for Morocco.
Marbled Papers : Used for end papers or covering books
and albums. AVAILABLE FROM: Talas, Michele Semard, bookbinding suppliers.
END OF SUBSIDIARY PAGE 28
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