Mylar sleeve vs. PSA holder for preservation

[Volod]

Thanks for another great post, Steve - interesting info. I am wondering about:

"Newsprint is a great example of a paper that degrades somewhat rapidly. In a confined space with little ventilation that acid can remain, and accelerate the degradation."

Since comicbook pages are probably similar to newsprint, would the acidic degradation factor not argue for forgoing sleeves altogether in the case of books? That is, apart from protecting the covers, squeezing the interior pages tightly would seem to accelerate the process to some extent. I have always inserted the recommended nonacidic buffer board in my own comic sleeves, but can't see how it would protect all the pages, instead of just the two it is between. Any thoughts on that?

[steve B]

As I understand it, the comic grading companies put buffer paper in between the pages and may even recommend reslabbing periodically to replace the buffer paper. Whether the paper will degrade is a real puzzler. I have a couple 1906 newspapers that almost can't be handled because they've become brown and brittle. I have bound newspapers from the 20's that are browning around the edges, but are pretty much ok inside. I believe air and light may have a lot to do with it. Other stuff Like old SCDs are doing fine stacked in paper bags in the garage.

There are also different grades of newsprint. Some old comics I have are on paper that's maybe a bit above standard newsprint.

And of course really old newspapers like those from the 1860's and earlier are often on paper with a high rag content and are actually almost acid free.

Someday I want to test a few pieces by placing them under different conditions. I just don't have the time right now.

Film stock is related, being largely cellulose, and cellulose triacetate will break down and release acetic acid (Vinegar) Outside of serious archives, the process isn't well understood. My friend who collects films has noticed that metal cans are worse than plastic, and that it appears as if some of the cleaning processes contribute to it. But it's still variable. Some stuff stored poorly will be just fine, some stuff stored fairly well will be ruined.

Even the old nitrate film is a tossup (cellulose nitrate , so still related) There was a batch found in texas that had just been shoved into the back of a closet in a house with no AC and the films were in amazing condition. Yet professional archives note serious degradation regularly.

I'd say that getting as close to what the LOC recommends as is reasonable will have the best chance of a good outcome. Not all of us can keep our hobby storage at 40F and 40% humidity and hardly ever handle the items. (Might be slightly different for paper. )
My other hobbies are far worse because there's a mix of materials, some of them with very little track record of archival storage. Aluminum, with Kevlar epoxied to it and in places epoxied to steel, then add rubber and silk tires, and a plastic and leather seat, and paint and stickers.......plus probably a few bits I've forgotten.

Steve B

Originally Posted by Volod

Thanks for another great post, Steve - interesting info. I am wondering about:

"Newsprint is a great example of a paper that degrades somewhat rapidly. In a confined space with little ventilation that acid can remain, and accelerate the degradation."

Since comicbook pages are probably similar to newsprint, would the acidic degradation factor not argue for forgoing sleeves altogether in the case of books? That is, apart from protecting the covers, squeezing the interior pages tightly would seem to accelerate the process to some extent. I have always inserted the recommended nonacidic buffer board in my own comic sleeves, but can't see how it would protect all the pages, instead of just the two it is between. Any thoughts on that?