Conservation Lab: Map Treatment 

Unfortunately it was popular to glue them onto backings, especially in the 19th century.

Hello! We asked our conservation team what they thought, and this is their advice: "There is not a chemical that can undo the damage to paper that makes it brittle and inflexible. We carefully consider what paper can withstand the washing process and if that particular item will benefit from it. When a paper is still flexible, we hope to prolong its flexibility by reducing staining or washing away pollutants, for example, with an aqueous treatment, and again, this has to be considered on a case by case basis. When it is decided that a brittle paper will benefit from an aqueous treatment, there are different techniques that support the brittle paper during treatment, but it will not go back to being flexible from the treatment. In these cases, we will add additional physical support to the item such as paper or polyester backings or other types of enclosures."

@@uispeccoll Thanks for your answer! You helped me a lot with this

Hi! I dont know if you are still looking for an answer but: there are hydrogen bonds in paper, and with time they are getting weaker. If you wash paper, the oxygen from water will rebuild these bonds so it will be more stable structure. It also will make paper whiter as side effect. And you can give a flat shape with applying pressure to your (now softer) paper when its wet. So if the ink doesnt come off by water in the tests, this process can be followed (with knowledge of how to do it of course) as it doesnt have any damaging side. Hope this helps!

Thank you for the feedback!

What media are you looking at? Book or photo? It can be tricky, but if it's a more modern book, blot the pee, flush area with water, and let dry. Our conservators would not recommend this for any other items though.

@@uispeccoll it is a document: original window sticker of a collector car. The pee is years old. Since pee is acidic, it probably makes for a rather permanent "dye." These stickers are forms which are filled out with "typing." On this one, the typing is somewhat faint and I suspect not as permanent as the pee. If I had to guess, I'd think perhaps it would have to be bleached out if such a thing is ever done. I would gladly consider having it professionally repaired if possible. I have no idea how much this can cost.