Preserving MemoriesTo protect and preserve...Hmmn! This is an important topic! Protecting and preserving memories of your valuable paper keepsakes is a primary concern for any true ephemera collector...as it should be! Let's start by explaining what we mean, when we speak of preserving your paper ephemera. Basically, it means that you are taking the neccessary steps to prevent your paper goods from further deterioration. You know, kind of like a museum would do!
It is crucial that you stop, or at least, slow down the aging process of the paper. How do you do that? Click here for some simple guidelines on preparing your collectible items for proper paper preservation. Then click on paper storage to learn more about storing away those paper treasures safely! Displaying your keepsakes is a tricky thing. Sure, it would be nice to be able to share your collectibles with your house guests. But, if your having pizza for dinner, keep your guests far, far, away from any paper collectible! You need to keep "human handling" to a minimum if possible! So, does that mean that you have to seal everything up in an airtight vault, of some sort? No, you can still enjoy looking at your keepsakes. In fact, there are a variety of display techniques that we will explore in another section. A cool idea that allows you to do this, is digital storage! It solves a couple of problems all at the same time. You can scan your collectibles into your computer, creating a digital image. Preserving memories digitally is fast, fun, and reliable. There are several ways to use that digital image and display it for all to see!
What? You have 10 full boxes of paper goods? Should you preserve every last scrap of paper in those boxes? Is that possible? Possible? Sure, I guess so...but it's not very practical for the average collector. It may be cost prohibitive to preserve everything! So, where do you draw the line? That's where you need to make some solid decisions. Ask yourself some questions before tossing away anything.
Is it valuable?Determine how valuable each piece is. Ask for some expert advice if you need help with this. (value)Is it historical?If your piece of ephemera has some historical importance, consider loaning or donating it to a museum or public library. Let them preserve and display it for you!Is it fragile?Is that old newspaper so old that it falls apart in your hands? If so, it may not be possible (gulp!) to save it! Sometimes, we have to part with those things that we love...Is it sentimental?If you have a family keepsake that is sentimental to you, then you need to keep it...case closed! Browse through our site and figure out the best way to save it! Remember, preserving memories is our primary focus here! Take care of your paper collection and you will be able to cherish them forever!Return from Preserving Memories to Home Page
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