History, Manufacturing Techniques, and Preservation of Decals

Abstract

Decals, also known as decalcomania or transfer prints, were invented in England and flourished between the 1850s and 1970s, although they are still used today. Applied to a wide variety of materials, they were used primarily for decoration, trademarking, and advertisement on many surfaces. The use of decals greatly speeded manufacture of many consumer goods and made them more affordable. Because decalcomania have not been widely studied in the context of collections management, this paper will discuss the invention and use of decals, categorize types of decals by printing and application methods to aid in identification, and describe preservation strategies for decals found in cultural heritage collections.