Yet there are paper conservators who are willing to work with individuals whose collections may consist of one family heirloom.

While paper conservators can mend tears and fill holes, Ms. Horn said they should never do touch-up painting on any original surface.

Martina Yamin, a paper conservator for 30 years, looked down at a costume sketch for a modern dance production from the 1940's.

William Barrow (1904-1967) was an American chemist and paper conservator, and a pioneer of library and archives conservation.

Eric Harding, the senior paper conservator at the British Museum, was brought in to repair the damage.

As a paper conservator, I cannot unreservedly recommend all of the products in this range but the gummed tapes are very useful.

I have never been able to remove the inevitable bright yellow stain it produces and neither has any other paper conservator that I know.

Van der Reyden was previously chief paper conservator at the Museum of American History.

Leslie Paisley, Williamstown's paper conservator, said she was suspicious upon hearing the discovery story.

Jacquelyne Brownlow, the library's paper conservator, restores tattered music with rice paper and wheat paste.