Mounted albumens

[drc]

I recently held an unmounted 8x10 1860s albumen print. It was fragile and thin, but not about to fall apart in my hands. It's wasn't like tissue paper.

[Runscott]

........

[drc]

Yes, they can roll up into cigarettes. You'll need a stapler to remount it.

When first learning about albumen photos I skinned a tobacco card-- an actress card I got for perhaps $1-- and it bowed. I put it in a top loader and it looked fine. In fact, some intact 1800s tobacco insert cards, including Old Judges, have a bow even with the cardboard backing due to the photographing print bowing. I suspect that one reason albumen prints were mounted in the first place was because the photographers knew the prints had a tendency to bow or roll up with time.

[Runscott]

David, I removed most of what I posted in this thread, simply because it is of no real interest to photograph collectors on this board, other than perhaps you, Craig and myself. I think most would prefer to fly blind in this area, similar to the autograph collectors who have a wonderful 'Babe Ruth' signed ball in their bookcase to garner 'ooh's and 'aah's from their friends....until someone asks if the Joe Cronin signature is also real.

It's kind of cruel to burst their bubbles, so I'll refrain for now.

But yes, it's a silver gelatin print, which I doubt could be soaked...but I haven't tried yet.

[drc]

Say hi to Lannay for me.