| Archival preservation of autographs is important | | | | mark on the back of paper. |
| for protection and maintenance. Without proper | | | | A glazed front with either UV glass or plexiglass UF3 |
| care, autographs on paper can easily deteriorate and | | | | will screen out glare and harmful ultraviolet light. UV |
| become valueless. Here are some of the key points | | | | filtering varnishes are avoidable but are not durable |
| for preserving autographs. | | | | and will tend to bubble over time. In large autograph |
| Archival Display of AutographsDisplays that are | | | | frame displays, glass is impractical because of its |
| permanent, durable, chemically inert, and preserve the | | | | heavy weight. Be sure that the glazing does not |
| content of autographs in their original form are | | | | come in contact with the autograph. Condensation |
| considered archival. A well-designed archival display | | | | on the back of the glass may stain paper that is in |
| for autographed material should not only enhance the | | | | contact with the glass. Paper material needs space |
| presentation of your autographs, but also protect it | | | | to breathe and move. |
| from chemical reactions to the environment. | | | | If a tight enclosure is used to press autographed paper |
| Traditional autograph displays are openly effective for | | | | to the glazing, it may become corrugated; a condition |
| a few years and may in time cause irreparable | | | | referred to as cockled. In addition, moisture |
| damage to your collection. This article explores | | | | condensation on the interior of the glass may be |
| different ways that autograph collectors may display | | | | transferred to adjacent paper. An autograph |
| and protect autographed material. | | | | recessed from the glazed surface in a mounted well is |
| Plastic HoldersA wide variety of plastics are used to | | | | ideal. Felt tabs (bumpers) applied to the back of the |
| display album pages, photographs, paper documents | | | | frame will hold the frame away from the changing |
| and baseball cards. However, not all plastics are safe | | | | humidity encountered along the walls of the house. |
| and many types will damage autograph collections. | | | | EncapsulationEncapsulation is a technique designed to |
| Polyvinylchloride (PVC), for example, readily degrades | | | | protect material from environmental conditions. |
| when exposed to light and heating, resulting in emission | | | | Properly performed encapsulation may provide an |
| of plasticizer by-products and harmful gasses. This | | | | effective means of protecting delicate documents that |
| commonly used plastic will cause deterioration of | | | | need to be displayed and repeatedly handled. The |
| photographs and paper. | | | | material to be protected is loosely sandwiched |
| As a general rule, avoid plastic materials with surface | | | | between sheets of clear polyester or polypropylene. |
| coatings, UV absorbents and plasticizers. Polyester | | | | The edges of plastic are then sealed with double-sided |
| plastics such as Mylar "D or Melinex #516 are probably | | | | pressure-sensitive tape. |
| the best forms of plastic materials for storage and | | | | Mylar-D is commonly used for encapsulation because |
| display because they are inert and semirigid. Other | | | | it is free from damaging plasticizers, surface coatings |
| acceptable forms of archival quality plastics include | | | | and dyes. However, autographs done in charcoal, |
| polypropylene, polyvinyl acetate and polyethylene. | | | | pastel and certain types of pencils may be lifted from |
| FramingThe supporting board and covering mat should | | | | the underlying paper by static electricity generated |
| be made of acid-free inert material. Ordinary | | | | between the plastic film layers; therefore, these types |
| cardboard should not be used in frame displays since it | | | | of autographs should not be encapsulated. |
| will emit substantial quantities of peroxides and lignan | | | | Some conservators argue that encapsulation |
| by-products that stain paper autographs. | | | | accelerates deterioration of certain types of paper. |
| Black mounting paper, readily available at most retail | | | | This is of particular concern with highly acidic |
| outlets for photo mounting, is highly acidic and will fade | | | | autographed material that releases chemical |
| your autographed photos. Most conservationists | | | | by-products harmful to itself. For this reason, |
| advocate 100% ragboard as the safest material for | | | | autographs on paper may be deacidified before |
| mounting and backboard. This is available in a limited | | | | encapsulation or protected from self-destruction be |
| range of colors and textures. | | | | adding a sheet of buffered paper as a loose |
| Hinges and other devices used for fixation should also | | | | backing. |
| be composed of acid-free material. Autographed | | | | Most autograph collectors will agree that an autograph |
| album pages may be safely secured to a mat with | | | | worth collecting is worth preserving. The principles |
| Japanese rice paper and wheat or rice starch paste. | | | | and practice of archival display and storage are of |
| Masking tape, cellophane tape, synthetic adhesives or | | | | paramount importance to the autograph collector who |
| surgical tape, release by-products that are harmful to | | | | aspires to gather a collection worth preserving. |
| paper collectibles. These products should be | | | | The recommendations provided in this article are of a |
| avoided. Although linen tape is commonly used, this | | | | general nature. Collectors should consult with a |
| material dries out after a few years and may leave a | | | | qualified conservationist for their specific requirements. |