There are millions of old photographs that may have been over through the years. They were lost and destroyed because of natural disasters, fires and wars.
In some way, there could be some antique photos that may have survived and do exist as of today.
There is something unique about every antique photograph that still exists nowadays. Some antique photo collectors may have decided to restore it, or sell it and others keep it over the years.
If you are into collecting antique photographs, it is important to preserve and protect the classic images you value.
You may have a treasured family album or you are into searching and collecting antique pictures, it is important to know how to take care of these valuable items.
Fortunately, nowadays, with the technological advancements on photo preservation and restoration, there are many ways and information on what you should do or what to avoid with your antique photo collections.
Here are some tips and advices on what to do with antique photographs.
1. Antique photos should be kept properly. Sunlight can severely damage the photographs original settings.
It is advisable that you store them to a secure place. Do not store them at your attic, basement, or in garages.
It is recommended to secure them specifically designed for long term storage and stability. Use archival products that are specifically designed to keep and secure antique photographs.
These products can keep your collections from extreme sunlight, changing humidity and temperature that can trigger deterioration to your antique photos.
2. Use clear plastic sleeves with the right sizes for your photographic postcards, cabinet cards, and stereo views to store them properly.
Archival materials are very efficient in keeping antique photos to maintain its original settings.
Archival materials that are used for these items have polyester and polypropylene that are efficient for long term storing.
Cabinet cards are also inserted to antique file albums for extra protection for antique photos from dust and fingerprints.
3. Old family albums photograph collections should be well organized and secured by placing them to a loose leaf album.
This album is great in organizing old photos. If the photographs vary from small to large pictures, the photographs can be arranged using an archival paper pages.
You may purchase a Mylar or a polypropylene archival album with three ring binders to protect and keep them from sunlight and rodents.
4. Use a polyetheline bag for large antique pictures. Although it is quite expensive, its use is very efficient in keeping light impressions on larger antique photo collections.
For best preservation on the original settings and colors, each picture should be attached to pure rag acid free mat board.
Use acid free linen to hold the mats together. Some experts also recommend non buffed pure rag materials for those albumen prints.
Avoid exposing antique photos to any components that contain sulfur dioxide, fumes, fresh paint, and fumes that exist from cleaning oxidants.
Store antique photos in proper secured enclosures made of good clean plastic preferably archival materials that are free from sulfuric acids that can damage original colors of old photos.
