How to Store Vintage Magazines

Vintage magazines must be stored properly to preserve their apperance.

Vintage magazines provide insight into the activities and interests during a particular moment in time. For example, a vintage magazine may contain unique photographs or stories from a historic event. However, magazines are composed of paper, making a vintage magazine fragile with the potential to become damaged very easily. Therefore, the proper storage and maintenance of a vintage magazine is essential if you would like to continue to enjoy the magazine for years to come.

Things You'll Need

• Archival sleeves
• Archival storage boxes (for a small collection)
• Document storage cabinet (for a large collection)
• Cotton gloves
• Desiccant (optional)

Instructions

1. Remove any excess dust or debris from the magazine. Use a dry, soft cloth to lightly wipe away any dust from the cover and pages.

2. Store each vintage magazine in an archival plastic sleeve. Plastic sleeves are available at a local art supply store and online. If possible, store only one vintage magazine in each sleeve.

3. Organize the sleeves according to date, category or any other system you prefer. If you organize the magazines, it will make it easier to find the magazine you are looking for quickly in the future.

4. Place each sleeve inside a binder or water resistant box, and store in a cool, dry location. Exposure to light can cause the colors of the magazine to fade. In addition, if the magazines are stored in a moist location, mold has the possibility of growing on the magazines.

Tips & Warnings

• Wear cotton gloves whenever you view your collection to preserve your vintage magazines.

• Never store your magazine collection in a garage, attic or other storage area subject to extreme heat or cold as this could damage the collection.

References

• Country Living: Repairing and Conserving Vintage Magazines
• Old Imprints: Preserving Your Paper Items