I have a bunch of old real photo prints. They are all 55+ years old. All of the prints are curled to varying degrees and will not lay flat, unless of course they are "forced" to.
Isn't this normal? Is it considered a serious defect on an old photo print?
Edited to add: I ask because I have several on auction and have noted that they are curled in the descriptions, although I photographed them with a glass pane over them to hold them flat. Guess what? Very few bids.
Thank you in advance.
[ edited by loosecannon on Jan 2, 2001 08:47 AM ]
posted on January 2, 2001 11:52:06 AM new
Couln't the lack of bids be just as much (if not so) more related to subject, rarity or desirability as to the "curled" condition of the pix?
posted on January 2, 2001 02:08:44 PM new
I collect old photographs and the only ones I have that are curled were stored incorrectly over the years, ie dampness, heat, etc.
posted on January 3, 2001 02:12:24 AM new
I honestly doubt that there is a problem with the subject matter in most of these. As for rarity and desirability--I think they are both hard-to-find and desirable (to the right person).
That's why I was wondering if condition was a problem.
I have not sold many photographs in the past and don't know the market like I do on some of my "regular" merchandise. It is a different market than what I'm used to, for sure.
posted on January 3, 2001 02:48:21 AM new
loosecannon, I would like to look at some of them if you could email me an auction # or your ebay id at [email protected]
posted on January 3, 2001 09:07:22 AM new
Most people do not want to contend with "fixing" anythting even flattening an old photo.
Assuming there is nothing else wrong with your photos, you can safely flatten them to some degree in a dry mount press. If you can't get access to one, you can use a warm iron. Place the photo between two sheets of clean white paper and apply heat to the backside from the iron. This should help decurl the print which can then be placed under a heavy flat weight: I'd use some matt boards top and bottom and put a 25 pound weight on top until they cool and flatten out better.
Do not ever use a print flatenning solution. Verry bad!
