Old 45-55 Cartridges and Cartridge Box, should I clean them?

[Cav Trooper Jeff]

I recently had the very good luck to obtain an original cartridge box containing 19 original 45-55 cartridges. The headstamps indicate that were made in 1893. They are tin plated brass. They are not oxidized, but they are generally coated with "gunk," which appears to be an accumulation of oil, dirt, dust and who knows what combined into a gooey black substance. Speaking as a collector, is it better to gently clean them, or should they be left more or less as is, keeping the obvious evidence of their age?

And while I'm at it, how about the cartridge box itself? The leather is still pliable and not cracked, but it is very dirty. Should it be cleaned or left alone too? If cleaned, how?

Thanks!

Information

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[RCS]

Photo shows some early cartridges, the third cartridge is a 45-55 that was cleaned and had a coat of some type of finish - once this was done to a cartridge- the value is gone and collectors have little interest. I think it is best to leave them alone or just wipe them down a little.

Pecard leather dressing is used alot by collectors but there may even be better products to use on leatherAttachment 17593

[Mohawk]

DO NOT CLEAN THEM!!!!!!!!! A cleaning will remove the tin and destroy the value. Preservation is allowed, but do not clean them. I sold a prarie belt with 1893 headstamped 45-70 for $475 last year. They looked like deep doo doo, but the coloector who bought them was glad I had not touched them as it would have decreased the value by 50-75%. Collectors seem to like the gunked look, as they are more historical that way. It would be like shining the liberty bell....