Pre-1830 paper documents are fortunate in that they are mainly composed of good quality cotton or linen rag fibres, (Rag & Bone = Paper & Glue) and are usually in very good clean condition, if they have not been subjected to acidic ink or bad storage.

With the coming of the Industrial Revolution and the huge demand for printed books, it became impossible to collect enough rag material. It was replaced with cheap wood pulp that was difficult to produce to the standards expected. To make the new paper appear clean and smooth, additives were introduced. Papermakers Alum, Rosin, Size and Kaolin were added in many different combinations and quantities, these products acting together decayed the paper very rapidly.

It is worth remembering that in general mid to late Victorian papers and books are more prone to decay and fragility than paper before that date. It is still true today. Modern papers and ink do not seem to be standing the test of time. Anyone who owns a mass produced book bought during the war years, will be familiar with the colour and smell of decaying paper.

The first rules of preserving paper documents that are in good condition, is to keep them out of light and extremes of heat & cold, dust free. Ideally 13-18C and 55-60% R.H. Package in alkaline buffered folders, book jackets, boxes or inert plastic sleeves. Make photographic, scanned or film reproductions. Packaging encourages reverence towards an item and with luck, less ‘thumbing & licking’ will go on. Do not attempt to ‘repair’ a document that is fragile especially with sellotape. The ravages of mould or insects and acidic ink should be treated by a professional. Seek the advice of a qualified Archive Conservator or Bookbinder.

Letters

Unfold letters until they are single sheet or folio. Repeated flexing weakens the folds until they break the paper fibres completely. Store them singly or in groups inside acid-free manila folders.

Books

 Books benefit from a light cleaning with a soft brush to remove dust. If they are not on display, a book jacket or shoe helps to keep light and dust at bay. Avoid taking a book from a shelf by the headband. Grab the spine by both sides and smoothly pull it out. Consult a conservation bookbinder if there are problems with the spine or stitching.

Newspapers

Newsprint is made of poor quality wood pulp and is not designed to be kept long term, but – of course – we now find we do wish to keep them. Luckily the major newspapers keep microfilm and hard copies of their papers and they are not usually difficult to replace. Small local newspapers may not have this facility and many are no longer publishing. These types of newspaper are worth saving.

Newspapers are prone to rapid yellowing and embrittlement, which then tear easily and begin to crumble. Newsprint is also susceptible to damp/wet conditions, hence its usefulness for papier mache’! Unless a newspaper is unique, it is seldom worth the effort of full paper conservation. What can be done is to house them in alkaline (acid-free) buffered folders, out of light and extremes of heat and cold. Encapsulation has been tried, but produces an accelerated micro-climate which only speeds up the decay process. Minor repairs with conservation tape, available from suppliers, (not sellotape), to halt the progress of a tear are acceptable for newspapers only.

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