Looking for a simple way to unroll a very old brittle paper without breaking it.?

Question

We found a tavern liquor license that has been rolled up with an 1876 date and it is very brittle. Is there a simple way to make it more pliable so it may be unrolled and eventually framed?

Answer 1

try steam

Answer 2

Dont apply anything to it. Once paper is dry and brittle, anything you add to it can just damage it further.
Make sure you wash your hands, or wear white cotton gloves before handling it.
If you dont think you can unroll it without cracking or damaging it further, dont do anything and seek out an archivist, or conservator.
You'll proably need a second or third person to help.
Start with a clean surface to roll it out onto, covered with white paper is good.
Carefully unroll it, being sure to support the middle and roll it out as you normally would.
Place a sheet of paper ontop of it. Weigh it down with a heavy book or something of the like.
I would suggest to leave it weighted for a couple days just to be on the safe side.
Always handle documents by the outside edge, dont throw away any pieces of the document that may break off.

If you have any further questions, dont hesitate to gimme a buzz. I run into things like this in my professional, and personal life. The key is to be overly careful.

Answer 3

No offense, but I'd be careful with that wax idea. Once the wax is on paper, there is no getting it off.

The steam idea might work. In fact, why not put it in a bathroom where you have left the hot water running in the shower for a few minutes, so the room is very humid?

Answer 4

Try covering it in hot wax and while it is still wet open it. The wax is used to make a coating for it to hold it so it doesn't rip.....try it! Hope it helps.

Answer 5

try looking on HGTV.com

I think I remember seeing somone do that on one of their shows and they usualy post how to do things that they show.

Answer 6

not sure