Postcards from Scapa Flow: Developing a Conservation Strategy for Material Recovered from SMS Karlsruhe.

Blocks of postcards were recovered from the sea bed at Scapa Flow, from the wreck of a World War I cruiser. There were at least three different images represented: most were of a warship, others of a more sentimental nature. All of the postcards were unused; they were in very poor condition, being extremely soft, badly stained with metal corrosion and sulphides. The treatment of paper items recovered from the RMS Titanic is discussed, and a treatment strategy for the Scapa Flow assemblage is outlined. The condition of the cards is discussed, along with conservation treatment trials, conservation treatments and anticipated long-term problems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]