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U.S. THREE SHEET, 1915, D.W. GRIFFITH, LILLIAN GISH, MAE MARSH, SILENT, STONE LITHO, RIVERSIDE PRINT COMPANY, MILWAUKEE-CHICAGO 7047 |
| Examination under black-light, light table, digital imaging, tactile and visual observation. Documentation by Lindsay Simmons of Poster Mountain Inc. Date of examination : January 11, 2010 |
| THIS POSTER WAS NOT CONSERVED, NOR RESTORED BY POSTER MOUNTAIN INC.
This poster is an original printing 3 sheet in three panels mounted on cotton canvas and paper laminate substrate. It has been trimmed of excess linen to the edge of the poster. The entire border has been lightly and skillfully airbrushed to match the original paper color. The poster is in excellent condition; paper losses are very minor and were addressed to improve structural integrity and visual continuity. Cosmetic restoration was performed minimally and excellently.
For the purposes of this analysis the poster will be assessed by panel:
TOP PANEL
Light table evaluation reveals ball point pen writing on the verso; illegible cursive spanning from the text “corporation†into the “Tâ€, “Iâ€, and “R†of the title. This writing on the reverse is not seen without the use of a light table.
Minor paper losses discovered on light table:
(1) Approximately 13†down the center vertical fold line, ½†diameter
(2) Right vertical fold line at the “T†in “Birth†measuring 1†diameter
(3) Above the “E†in “The†½†diameter
(4) Inside the “A†in “Nation†approximately 1†long, thin rectangular shape
Black light shows light airbrushing in the “Bâ€, “Tâ€, “A†and “O†of the title. Fold lines have been expertly detailed with colored pencil.
CENTER PANEL
Approximately 5†from the right edge the panel overlap is slightly lifting.
Minor paper losses discovered on light table:
(1) Center of the overlap, a triangular shaped loss measuring approximately 1â€
(2) To the left of Lincoln’s eye approximately ¼†diameter
This panel had probably been folded vertically for an extended period of time causing paper degradation in the form of patterned light brown discoloration (ghosting). This ghosting appears as faint hatch marks in the upper right side of the oval white area.
Black light shows that the oval paper colored area around Lincoln has been airbrushed along the fold lines. Fold lines have been expertly detailed with colored pencil.
LOWER PANEL
Paper losses discovered on light table:
(1) 11†up the center fold line approximately 2†diameter
(2) On the right side horizontal fold approximately ¼†diameter
Ghosting appears throughout the central, right and left sections in the white areas.
Black light shows that the paper colored area has been airbrushed along the fold lines. Fold lines have been expertly detailed with colored pencil.
STORAGE AND HANDLING
If kept in storage, this poster should be stored in a “cold†area between 20-30 degrees Celsius and with a relative humidity between 40-60%, and at least 6†above ground. Due to the semi-rigidity of the canvas and substrate, if kept rolled, it is possible that the poster could develop some planar distortion upon unrolling, recommend keeping rolled in sealed tube at least 6" in diameter, and stored on end. To display, we recommend professional, archival framing using acid-free materials and UV Plexiglas. Poster should be kept out of direct sunlight at all times.
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