Found a treasure... how do I keep them safe?
Does anyone know of a good way to preserve and display these beauties? They are far, far to precious to keep lingering in my basement unadored. I will definitely take pictures when I figure out how to safely do so  |
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| The best way to store them is to put them in an archival storage box. I'm not sure about displaying, but if you go to a reputable framing business, they would know. I'm sure it involves acid-free paper and non-glare glass. Avoid plastic or cellophane. You might find that preserving them is going to cost a whole lotta money! |
Iriskmj wrote: Well, I never actually thought something like this would happen... but I actually found something SUPER COOL in my basement! We've been working in the basement on the water valves, trying to get my irrigation system working. we noticed this little crawl space that was covered up with cardboard looking stuff. Being the curious person that he is, my dad took off the cardboard to see what was underneath. LOW AND BEHOLD stored there are several vintage magazines from what looks like the 1920s and maybe even earlier! The most noticeable are some ladies home journals, with front photos and illustrations TO DIE FOR! They are hanging up in that crawl space area. I'm not sure what is keeping them up there right now. Despite how damp the basement is, they seem to be in very good condition. No mildew or rot that I noticed. I haven't wanted to touch them, because although they don't seem brittle, the less they are handled the better.
Does anyone know of a good way to preserve and display these beauties? They are far, far to precious to keep lingering in my basement unadored. I will definitely take pictures when I figure out how to safely do so go to a comic book store and by lycoprene bags and acid-free backing sheets. it's how i keep iron man # 1 safe and sound. |
| Ed- do they make those in larger sizes? They made magazines in much more generous sizes in the 1920s... |
| WOW - that's really cool! |
Iriskmj wrote: Ed- do they make those in larger sizes? They made magazines in much more generous sizes in the 1920s...
"golden age" bags come in up to 16 by 20 in sizes i think. been awhile since i've flown my geek flag and walked into a comic store. |
| We take in donations like this (not necessarily those specifically!) at work all the time. Usually a librarian can take a look at them and advise you on what to do-- maybe even direct you to an archivist. Those people can preserve anything forever!
The comic book bags aren't a bad idea but bring them into normal humidity first for a few days. Putting them into the bags after being in a basement (even if you don't see moisture) can trap the moisture in the bag with it and cause mildew. If you don't find a solution that you like, let me know and I can ask an archivist at work what they'd advise (I'm off until Monday otherwise I'd just do it tomorrow.  ) |
| What a neat find! |
| can't wait to see pics!
that is so cool at the beginning of the story I thought you had found a rare animal...lol |
Wow, Karen, what a great find!!!!!!!!!  The family of a church member (who is now in a nursing home) just had an estate sale of her things - the woman and her late husband were packrats supreme. NEVER threw ANYTHING away. She had two 1920 calendars, nothing much to look at. The kind where there is one picture on the backing and the months were attached on the bottom in a tear-away form. EACH calendar sold for $400!!!!!!! She also had some VERY old Life and Look books like the ones you have. I don't remember what they sold for, just remember being amazed.
Have you thought of getting them appraised? |
| I have thought about having them appraised. Firt I've got to get them out of he basement. I'd kinda like to wait until the humidity drops a little bit, but I just don't know that much about this stuff to know what I should an should not be doing. I'm kinda hoping to run across some preservation inf on the web, but the library is a good idea.
If they end up being really valuable, I may end up donating them at some point to my college's library if they are interested, but at this point I want them to (safely) display in my home |
| you can also take them to a frame shop and they can set them in a frame with a coating to perserve them. Will cost more, but they might be worth it, if they are worth money. |
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