First of all, not all Old Judges have faded by any means -- many are still sharp with great contrast. Second, Old Judges were not printed -- as others have stated, they are photographs (technically albumen prints) glued on cardboard. Albumen prints, the most popular form of mass-produced photography in the 19th century, tend to fade over time with exposure to light, but they're usually ok if they're kept out of light. Jay Miller or Joe G. would know more about this than I do, and maybe they'll chime in.
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