posted on October 20, 2001 11:03:24 AM
I collect a certain old magazine. They are around 50 years old and can generally be found in pretty good condition. I recently, however, came into a bunch of these (am selling some on Ebay) and had a condition question;
For some reason these copies are especially brittle. If you accidentally bend a corner, it doesn't really bend, it instead snaps off!
What causes this? Most issues I have from around the same time period are not nearly this brittle. What causes this and is there any way to correct it?
posted on October 20, 2001 01:10:02 PM
This is mainly caused by acid in the paper which will destroy the paper over a long period of time.
Sometimes, you will find that the process has been accelerated due to the way that the paper was stored - sunlight, heat and high humidity will cause the paper to turn yellow and brittle much more quickly.
Paper collectors who live in a cooler climate definitely have an advantage here. I am in Oklahoma where old paper that is found stored in an attic or detached garage has very often been destroyed by the summer heat.
posted on October 20, 2001 01:21:41 PM
If you want to test this some bright warm sunny day take your morning news paper outside leave it in the sun all day till sun set then go look at what has happened to it.
paper in humid sunlight yellows fast if left there even as little time as a week it will become brittle and start cracking when bent after a few weeks of heating and cooling humidity and dew it will start to crumble on its own.. http://www.Dman-N-Company.com
Email [email protected]
posted on October 20, 2001 02:11:02 PM
They have been what I call fried, which is caused by being stored in a hot dry place such as an attic. The glue has been effected as well. The pages may come out when you look at them. Personally, I consider books, magazines, or other paper products in this condition as being, to put it delicately, worthless.
