How to Preserve really old newspapers.

Sciprio

Hi, My dad has a few different types of really old newspapers varying in dates from 1917 british and Irish newspapers and also The Cork Examiner from 1870. They're a bit worn and a bit stained but would would like to know how to get preserve them? Thanks.

Here's a picture of one of them.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/44388510@N07/15260000656/in/photostream/lightbox/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/44388510@N07/15279891601/in/photostream/lightbox/

fleet_admiral

Bit of vinegar do the trick

Bafucin

Laminate them.

Otherwise I think it's an experts job.

http://siarchives.si.edu/services/forums/collections-care-guidelines-resources/how-do-i-preserve-my-newspaper
Here though.

Sir Arthur Daley

In vinegar

catallus

Vinegar is acidic, idiots! He needs to varnish the paper to protect it from the air.

The Backwards Man

Give them to an old lady with cats.

Dr. Mantis Toboggan

Wallpaper your sh1tter with them. Creates quite a retro ambiance.

biko

Google suggests http://www.historybuff.com/newspapers/preserve.html

AH answer:
Roll them up really tight. Then use them to spank the dog, the kids and the missus.

fran38

I bought some 1970's comics 10 years ago. They came in 'acid free bags'. Similar to polypockets. Comics are mint. Google them.

Darkglasses

Get some acid-free folders or tissue paper on amazon, best thing for them.

Turpentine

Sciprio wrote: »

Hi, My dad has a few different types of really old newspapers varying in dates from 1917 british and Irish newspapers and also The Cork Examiner from 1870. They're a bit worn and a bit stained but would would like to know how to get preserve them? Thanks.

Here's a picture of one of them.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/44388510@N07/15260000656/in/photostream/lightbox/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/44388510@N07/15279891601/in/photostream/lightbox/

Apart from suggesting maybe contacting various historians or scholars or librarians more knowledgable in the field than I, may I also suggest that you (or your dad) purchase and train a very tidy hamster?

kneemos

Underneath the lino in the kitchen.

kneemos

Underneath the lino in the kitchen.

stimpson

One of these should do the trick

http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B001W3MN9A/

Tail Docker

Shred them up really fine and cram into jam-jars. The jars are 100% airtight, stops them going off guaranteed. Then you need to do some boiling and sh1t. I used to watch the old wan do it with strawberries. Strawberries/newspapers, whatever.

bonzodog2

Serious answer (sorry AH!) - get a couple of suitably sized bits of hardboard/ply/MDF. Put big sheets of plain paper (the type of paper may be important, try asking a large national library) between the newspaper pages. Store dry dark and cool.

Tail Docker

bonzodog2 wrote: »

Serious answer (sorry AH!) - get a couple of suitably sized bits of hardboard/ply/MDF. Put big sheets of plain paper (the type of paper may be important, try asking a large national library) between the newspaper pages. Store dry dark and cool.

Sounds like effort. Jam jars are easier. Everyone has jam jars.

bonzodog2

Tail Docker wrote: »

Sounds like effort. Jam jars are easier. Everyone has jam jars.

My jam jar has jam in. Would flagons do?

whisky_galore

Bafucin wrote: »

Laminate them.

Otherwise I think it's an experts job.

http://siarchives.si.edu/services/forums/collections-care-guidelines-resources/how-do-i-preserve-my-newspaper
Here though.

Laminating is not for old material like the OP's. That will make sh*t of them after a while.
For sensible answers, I would have tried the Antiques/Collectables Forum.

OldGoat

Get them scanned.

Sciprio

Even though getting pet hamsters and jam jars sounds appealing i think i'll tell my dad to settle for putting them in the kitchen floorboards!

Darkglasses

bonzodog2 wrote: »

Serious answer (sorry AH!) - get a couple of suitably sized bits of hardboard/ply/MDF. Put big sheets of plain paper (the type of paper may be important, try asking a large national library) between the newspaper pages. Store dry dark and cool.

MDF and basically all wood is somewhat acidic which is one of the main things you need to avoid when storing valuable paper documents. Cheap acid free boxes from amazon will work just fine.

paulbok

I've read that smoke is a good preservative. Perhaps hanging them over an open fire to dry them?

ScumLord

paulbok wrote: »

I've read that smoke is a good preservative. Perhaps hanging them over an open fire to dry them?

I was watching a documentary on Greek playwrights the other night and the only surviving play from one of them survived because it got burnt in a house fire and the carbonised papirus was preserved.. So set your house on fire and then bury the house under sand, that should do the trick.

Sciprio

Guys, you were right in them becoming ragged and torn so easily, So, we've dumped them. They wasted away so got dumped Thanks for any information. anyway. Cheers

Victor

The Examiner or a museum just might just have given you money for it.

Sciprio

Victor wrote: »

The Examiner or a museum just might just have given you money for it.

They wasted away, I asked how to preserved them but i presumed some people were taking the piss. They're gone now anyway.

somesoldiers

In my desk in work I've got both copies of The Sun from 2007 when Irish girl Claire Tully got the baps out on page 3- worth anything? Only time I ever bought the rag

And whatever happened her?

Beyondgone

Sciprio wrote: »

They wasted away, I asked how to preserved them but i presumed some people were taking the piss. They're gone now anyway.

I thought the jam jars idea < was a runner. Bet you're sorry now you didn't.

Shenshen

There are products available that will deacify paper, stopping the process of further decay.
But it will remain as fragile as it was before the treatment, it just won't get any worse.
To preserve it, it would need to be split, and then put back together with an acid-free sheet of paper in the middle.

The ZFB in Leipzig offers this service.

jamesbere

somesoldiers wrote: »

In my desk in work I've got both copies of The Sun from 2007 when Irish girl Claire Tully got the baps out on page 3- worth anything? Only time I ever bought the rag

And whatever happened her?

She went into the preserving newspaper business

topper75

Roll them up and put them in a cave near the Dead Sea.

Call back in a few aeons and they'll be perfectly legible.

You might even sell them at a profit if Cork has not been destroyed by then.