![]() Most antique albums are too large and fragile to place on a flatbed scanner for digitizing. Use a digital camera to photograph pages. Scan both sides of the image at a resolution of 600 dpi (dots per inch) or higher in full color (even for a black-and-white image), and replace the photo. It’s helpful to use a thin micro spatula or pair of long-handled tweezers. Take care to avoid damaging the album or print. You may want to remove each photo from the pages to check the back and edges for notes or a photographer’s imprint (which gives the name and location of the photography studio). You can protect the photographs and any decorative printing from abrasion by inserting sheets of acid-free tissue paper, available from Gaylord Archival, between the album pages. Openings in the page or along one side allowed one or more photographs to be inserted and viewed through decorative cutout windows. These early albums were designed with thick, double-sided pages with gilt edges. Dust with a soft cloth or use a screen-covered vacuum hose if needed. Don’t set anything on top of velvet or fabric books where it might leave an impression in the fabric. Keep metal parts scrupulously dry and dust with a soft, clean cloth. Avoid using any kind of cleaner or solvent. Take note of the materials that make up your album and use appropriate preservation techniques. Velvet, celluloid, leather, metal, and fabric were used as decorative covers, held together by embossed brass hinges. Victorian photo albums came in various sizes, from tiny books for miniature prints to large tabletop display volumes. Handle photos by the edges, never touching the surface with bare fingers. You also could wear white cotton or nitrile gloves. When working with old photos and albums, wash your hands first. Care for your heirloom antique album as you would any special book, with extra consideration for the photographs inside. Photographers saw a ready market for photo albums as families purchased multiple tintypes, large “cabinet cards” and smaller carte de visite photographs. ![]() ![]() Preserving Victorian Photo AlbumsĮlaborate, heavy Victorian albums gained popularity with the rise of portrait photography in the mid-19th century. Instead, open the box lid, lower the drop front and gently lift the album with clean hands. Just be careful not to slide the album in and out of the box, which could damage the covers. Micro spatulas are available from archival suppliers such as Gaylord Archival.Ī drop-front box like this one from Gaylord Archival makes it easier to remove your album from the box and put it back in. The long, narrow blade is an archivist’s best friend for handling old photos and fragile paper: It aids in lifting photos from albums without digging your fingers underneath the edge, slipping pictures out of photo corners, turning back bent pages, removing staples and extracting photos stuck to the pages of magnetic albums. This thin, flexible tool isn’t for flipping tiny pancakes. ![]() If you want to reassemble the album, choose archival materials and mount photos with corners or photo-safe sleeves, rather than adhesive. Or you can place the photos in an archival paper or plastic sleeve and write the caption on the outside of the enclosure. Copy any caption onto the back of the photo if it’s is relatively clean, using a soft No.Slide regular dental floss under the photo with a gentle back-and-forth sawing motion to cut through the wax.Make your way around the edges of the photo, working toward the center. Starting at a corner, gently hold the photo with one hand and work the micro spatula blade between the page and photo.Try these tricks if photos are stuck to the page: If the plastic page is stuck to the print, don’t attempt to remove the image. Instead, loosen the print from the page with a micro spatula. Q: How can you easily remove photos that have been placed in albums that have a sticky glue-type surface without ripping the photos?Ĭonservators generally don’t recommend freezing, using solvents or melting the wax to free photos from the page. How to remove photos from old photo albums How to remove photos from old photo albumsĭid you inherit some old photo albums? Treat them with care by following our tips for preserving and storing your family treasure. Family Tree Templates and Relationship Charts.Best UK, Irish and Commonwealth Genealogy Websites.Best African American Genealogy Websites.Surnames: Family Search Tips and Surname Origins.Preserving Old Photos of Your Family History.How to Find Your Ancestor’s US Military Records.
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