Political Cartoons

In 1997, through the generous benefaction of Lou and Loretta Glucksman, and Nick Robinson, Early Printed Books and Special Collections acquired a large collection of caricature prints. This collection has been added to continuously and consists of over 2000 political cartoons, several of which are included in the current Napoleon exhibition in the Long Room.

New acquisitions commonly arrive with acidic backings or mounts, and often with damaging repairs, so treatment is on-going with several hundred conserved each year. The approach is to ensure the preservation of the works following a minimal intervention approach. All prints are surface cleaned with a ‘smoke sponge’ or vinyl eraser, and a soft hair brush. Non-functioning or unstable repairs and patches are removed along with all acidic additional material.

Gummed paper tapes and residue adhesives are general removed using water and cotton swabs. Pressure sensitive tapes often have brittle carriers, and are mechanically removed. In these cases residual adhesive has usually discoloured, causing yellow/brown staining, which is often visible from the front of the print. Typically an industrial methylated spirit (IMS) and acetone mixture are used to solubilise and reducing staining on a low-pressure suction table.

Prints that are adhered overall to acidic backing boards are mechanically removed using a Teflon spatula. Where safe for all media the prints are float washed, using alkalized water to improve the pH of the paper.

Tear repairs are necessary for most of the prints. Corners and edges are re-enforced using Japanese ‘kizukishi’ paper and wheat starch paste, and losses in-filled using toned Japanese paper.

The prints are re-housed in polyester sleeves to facilitate access and reduce direct handling.

The collection is available for study through Early Printed Books and Special Collections.