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Author
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Topic: Reframing advice for Apollo 13 presentation
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David Carey
Member Posts: 782
From:
Registered: Mar 2009
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posted 08-03-2011 11:46 AM
   
I have an Apollo 13 presentation given to Jim Lovell by the backup crew. The about 16"x20" item contains a mix of spare and flown foil labels from the CM/LM(?) along with the back-up crew dedication.While I love the item and humorous elements therein ("To Capt. James A. Lovell / 'The Decal Kid' / From the Old Backup Crew, with Admiration, Mixed with Confusion / Apollo 13 / April 11-17") I'm not too crazy about the original frame which shows a bit of road-wear and is more ornate than my tastes.  My question is whether re-framing is somehow considered to be destructive to originality or provenance in this case? Unlike Scott's (Spaceaholic) sensible and attractive re-do in June of a grouping of flown John Young items as a means to preserve, the change here would be largely for aesthetics. The paper backing seems to be an acid-based and aged/brittle Kraft paper but I don't imagine it is particularly harmful to the foil decal set which is buffered further by the card-stock mount for the decals themselves. My preference is to go with a simple, minimalist black frame that "plays well" with other items in the collection and doesn't distract so much from the presentation itself. Curious to hear thoughts from the community on whether this change would be considered detrimental or destructive. I'd of course keep the original frame versus tossing. Thanks. |
Spacepsycho
Member Posts: 818
From: Huntington Beach, Calif.
Registered: Aug 2004
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posted 08-03-2011 12:09 PM
David, any idea what tags are flown or unflown? I've never seen such a large collection of flown tags in one display. I would leave it alone, unless you are going to be splitting up everything to sell. |
David Carey
Member Posts: 782
From:
Registered: Mar 2009
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posted 08-03-2011 12:46 PM
There are at most just a few flown foil decals here - Capt. Lovell couldn't recall which was which - and most are probably spare/unflown. Nothing for sale here but no, I'd never consider splitting it up to sell the bits and pieces. I know its a controversial topic but dissection is never my favored approach to any artifact (but at the risk of seeming a hypocrite and in the interest of full disclosure I do own an A11 coldplate segment acrylic). |
garymilgrom
Member Posts: 1966
From: Atlanta, GA
Registered: Feb 2007
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posted 08-03-2011 01:17 PM
I would not worry about reframing it. I think a clean frame would add to the value, not diminish it. By clean I mean unscratched etc. I would use high quality glass (museum or conservation grade) to help protect the items from sunlight. Beautiful presentation! |
stsmithva
Member Posts: 1933
From: Fairfax, VA, USA
Registered: Feb 2007
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posted 08-03-2011 02:14 PM
That is a wonderful item. In my opinion, discarding the original frame won't harm its value or historical importance, especially if you're sure to use top-quality UV-protective glass to better preserve it. |
SpaceAholic
Member Posts: 4437
From: Sierra Vista, Arizona
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 08-03-2011 03:00 PM
That's got to be one of the most amazing displays I've seen yet David. Have you checked the back of the placards and decals for drawing numbers? If so, you may want to encapsulate those within archival hinged plastic sleeves so they can be lifted up for future access. |
David Carey
Member Posts: 782
From:
Registered: Mar 2009
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posted 08-03-2011 04:58 PM
quote:
Originally posted by garymilgrom:
I would use high quality glass (museum or conservation grade) to help protect the items from sunlight.
The glass in place right now has Jim Lovell's signature and an 'Apollo 13' handwritten above the crew-made dedication decal (see enlarged image) so I'd not want to replace it Gary. Absent the certification I'd agree with a swap. Fortunately the item doesn't get much/any direct sun in my office and the glass seems pretty nice to start with. Not sure if the framing shops used UV-blocking glass in the early 70s but it looks quite archival compared to the standard glazing of a craft-store prefab frame. Perhaps I'll look into a double-stack of the original glass and a new UV-pane overlay to protect both the handwriting and the presentation below. quote:
Originally posted by SpaceAholic:
Have you checked the back of the placards and decals for drawing numbers? If so, you may want to encapsulate those within archival hinged plastic sleeves so they can be lifted up for future access.
Well Scott, all of the decals are firmly glued to the rigid/pebble-finish cardstock used for the presentation, fixed in place just as you see it in the picture above. Since the presentation itself will remain as-made I'm afraid there will be no peeking for numbers or any kind of bag-and-tag (but good idea).Still keen for any additional opinions from the cS-sphere on positive/negative/neutral for a frame-only changeout, and thanks for the replies thus far. |
fredtrav
Member Posts: 1673
From: Birmingham AL
Registered: Aug 2010
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posted 08-03-2011 05:41 PM
Does your provenance/COA include a picture of the piece? If so I might not change the frame so it matches the picture. Otherwise a nice frame should not hurt the piece or its value.Wonderful piece by the way. |
rjurek349
Member Posts: 1190
From: Northwest Indiana
Registered: Jan 2002
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posted 08-03-2011 08:26 PM
You might consider having Lovell re-certify the presentation board on the back-side of the board, so that you can replace the glass with museum quality, UV protecting glass. Signatures on the glass will be fragile, and can probably wipe clean over time. On the back of the board, you can preserve provenance, and when re-framed, keep the sigs out of the light and well preserved. Just a thought. And you can get a picture of Lovell holding etc. |
David Carey
Member Posts: 782
From:
Registered: Mar 2009
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posted 08-04-2011 02:52 PM
Fred - there is no pre-existing formal COA photo so consistency wouldn't be an issue (and again the original frame will be retained for legacy). To this point; Richard - I like your notion of getting some fresh certification on a more permanent/durable medium. ASF AAMS in November will be a good opportunity should I choose that route and agreed a picture of him with the item would be nice. Thanks all for your comments/ideas. |
David Carey
Member Posts: 782
From:
Registered: Mar 2009
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posted 08-11-2011 05:32 PM
Mission accomplished, at least in part. I think I'll lug it to AAMS for some fresh certification on the original backing board still in place behind the decal-laden card stock. Only the frame (saved in a closet at home) has been changed; still has the signed but high-quality glass of the original.  On edit: addition made.  |
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