[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index][Thread Index]
Re: Onion skin(?) paper
Julie:
I don't necessarily have a deciphering solution to your vexing problem, but
it sounds like you are dealing with a letterpress copy of an original
document. Letterpress was a popular reproduction medium of the 19th century,
and its simple technology predates both mimeographic and carboncopy forms.
Reading these things when there's as much excessive bleed-through as you
describe is a not-uncommon problem. I have only found that extreme patience
(backing up the tissue with white paper to lend minimal opacity) and
word-by-word deciphering/ transcription is about all one can do.
I would like to know if any of our esteemed colleagues have a better answer,
so would appreciate a general response posting to the whole list.
Kevin V. Bunker
Student Assistant
California State Archives
> ----------
> From: Julie Holcomb[SMTP:jholc@NAV.CC.TX.US]
> Reply To: Julie Holcomb
> Sent: Monday, April 02, 2001 2:27 PM
> To: ARCHIVES@LISTSERV.MUOHIO.EDU
> Subject: Onion skin(?) paper
>
> In one of my collections I have a letter from 1864 written on both sides
> of an onion skin or other thin, translucent paper. The letter is
> impossible to read because the handwriting from the reverse side is
> visible on the front and the lines of the handwriting from each side
> line up perfectly. We have tried photocopying and scanning to no
> avail. We have figured out some of the words through the use of
> magnification. Oh, and did I mention that at some point in this
> document's history someone patched a hole in the paper with scotch tape
> (and failed to line up the words)?! Any suggestions on how we can
> decipher this document?
>
> Thanks in advance.
> Julie Holcomb
>
> --
> Julie Holcomb, Archivist
> Navarro College
> 3200 W. 7th Ave.
> Corsicana, Texas 75110
> Internet: jholc@nav.cc.tx.us
> Phone: 903-875-7438
> Fax: 903-874-4636
>
> A posting from the Archives & Archivists LISTSERV List!
>
> To subscribe or unsubscribe, send e-mail to listserv@listserv.muohio.edu
> In body of message: SUB ARCHIVES firstname lastname
> *or*: UNSUB ARCHIVES
> To post a message, send e-mail to archives@listserv.muohio.edu
>
> Or to do *anything* (and enjoy doing it!), use the web interface at
> http://listserv.muohio.edu/archives/archives.html
>
> Problems? Send e-mail to Robert F Schmidt <rschmidt@lib.muohio.edu>
>
A posting from the Archives & Archivists LISTSERV List!
To subscribe or unsubscribe, send e-mail to listserv@listserv.muohio.edu
In body of message: SUB ARCHIVES firstname lastname
*or*: UNSUB ARCHIVES
To post a message, send e-mail to archives@listserv.muohio.edu
Or to do *anything* (and enjoy doing it!), use the web interface at
http://listserv.muohio.edu/archives/archives.html
Problems? Send e-mail to Robert F Schmidt <rschmidt@lib.muohio.edu>