Re: Demise of Gilded Age (Bronzing Powder)

[P3D John Weiler <jweiler@xxxxxxx>]

Bob Weir forwarded a posting from the history of photography mailing
list about image deterioration due to bronzing powder used for gilding
card mounts and albums, and commented "I personally have some H.C.
White views with gilded edges, but have not noticed any particular
deterioration of the images (yet)..."

Actually, the gilding on some H. C. White views is the printing on the
mounts, not on the edges.  I pawed through quite a few of my White
views last evening and can't see that the proximity of this gilding
has any effect on the image.  The prints on the mounts with gold lettering
seem just as likely to have the usual H.C. White richness as those with
standard black lettering.  Perhaps this gold ink was a different process
than the bronzing powder method mentioned on the mailing list?

On the other hand, I have 19th century cards with albumen prints and
gilded edges, such as Powell Survey views, which also have nice rich
prints showing no evidence of image deterioration even at the edges
which are closest to the gilding.

John Weiler
Columbus OH
jweiler@xxxxxxx


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