Getting tiny pieces of scrap tobacco off a T205?

[Bocabirdman]

Originally Posted by obcbeatle

Sorry it took me so long to provide a scan. So the two pieces I thought about removing are the piece on the front just below Neal's cap ... and the piece on the back covering "1910". Those two pieces feel raised when you rub your finger over them. The other two pieces (one between the "N" & "A" of NAP's ... front of card ... and the other in the top right corner of the back of the card) don't feel raised when rubbing with finger (although it would be nice to remove those too). But as Leon and others have mentioned ... removing the pieces doesn't remove the stain.

As an aside ... the piece below Neals cap I alway thought was part of his hair ... until I tool a closer look at another T205 Neal Ball card :-) BTW ... kind of neat too that Neal befriended Babe Ruth when Ruth was a young pitcher (I think around 1914). Plus I think Ball was the guy that is mentioned in an old (1908/1909?) letter that has survived ... from a NY writer suggesting that he allow the ATC/ALC to use his image on a T206! Neat stuff! Thanks for any help with soaking this card! Jerry.

The official verdict from Boca is a quick 5 minute soak in room temperature distilled water. STAY AWAY from a Q-Tip seeing as how you are dealing with a face and a tobacco wad directly on a number on the reverse. A Q-Tip could lead to a bit of ink loss in both places. If 5 minutes doesn't finish the job, give it another 5. The two wads of tobacco will break free quickly and the other two larger stains should benefit.....Good Luck.....