Carlo M Posted April 1, 2019 Share Posted April 1, 2019 Just received a nice page from the late '80s. As typical for that period a few of the word balloons have come off. The seller had duly warned me and included the balloons (all originals) in the parcel, so no problem there. Now classic question: should I just leave it alone (there is art underneath, with just a bit of tanning around where the balloons used to be). Or have it professionally restored? The page is a few thousand dollars worth, and will rest safely in a portfolio. Suggestions? What do you guys normally do in cases like this? Carlo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Peck Posted April 2, 2019 Share Posted April 2, 2019 I usually re attach them using acid free paper cement aokartman 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chromium Posted April 2, 2019 Share Posted April 2, 2019 I've used egg white to reattach them, ten years later, still on and no side effects. I figure if it was good enough during the Renaissance for sticking gold leaf to surfaces, it's good enough for me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carlo M Posted April 2, 2019 Author Share Posted April 2, 2019 White eggs....I might try that after proper testing! So I take it the vote would be try and restore the piece, so long as it is done properly. I guess it makes sense, comc OA is after all combination of words and pictures... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stinkininkin Posted April 2, 2019 Share Posted April 2, 2019 1 minute ago, Carlo M said: White eggs....I might try that after proper testing! So I take it the vote would be try and restore the piece, so long as it is done properly. I guess it makes sense, comc OA is after all combination of words and pictures... Probably stating the obvious, but the rubber cement that attached the balloons in the first place and is yellowing/discoloring, won't fade and might continue to darken. If this staining goes beyond the edges of where the word balloon is reattached, you might not have a pleasing result. Perhaps having the glue stains professionally removed or at least neutralized might be the best (but more expensive!) option. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carlo M Posted April 2, 2019 Author Share Posted April 2, 2019 2 hours ago, stinkininkin said: Probably stating the obvious, but the rubber cement that attached the balloons in the first place and is yellowing/discoloring, won't fade and might continue to darken. If this staining goes beyond the edges of where the word balloon is reattached, you might not have a pleasing result. Perhaps having the glue stains professionally removed or at least neutralized might be the best (but more expensive!) option. Yeah I am leaning towards having the job done professionally. The staining is quite confined to where the balloon was, so maybe there is no need to have the staining removed. Not sure I can get that kind of treatment here in Italy. Balloons reattached with acid free glue, probably yes, stain removal....mmmmhhh maybe not. But in general I think a comic book page should have the balloons on, if still available. For me looking at the text is quite a big part of my enjoyment of comic OA. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
