Preserving Newspaper Frontpage

Reckless

Hey all,

I've got a copy of the NYTimes frontpage from election day. So far, it's been hanging on my wall via thumbtacks. I'd like to switch it into something classier for displaying, like a nice frame. But, if I just frame it, will that prevent the yellowing-over that happens to paper as it ages? Should I be laminating this first?

Thanks for any help.

Alpine

The main question here is whether it's air and moisture that yellow the newsprint, or if light does. Find that out and you'll know how best to preserve it.

If it's the former, it's probably regular lamination. If it's the latter, some sort of uv blocking laminate would be necessary.

Unfortunately, I don't know which it is.

tsmvengy

Frame it and get the framer to put it on acid-free backing and use UV protected glass on there - that will help keep it from fading. Newspaper is very fragile though, you'll want to hang it somewhere where it doesn't get direct sunlight on it.

KeyScourge

Dunno what they're actually called but there's these frames that are just, like, two panes of glass held airtight together. You put the bit of paper between em then hang it and no air will get to it so it should stay in good condition for much longer than it would with a normal frame.

Sorry I can't be of any more help

Corvus

tsmvengy wrote: »

Frame it and get the framer to put it on acid-free backing and use UV protected glass on there - that will help keep it from fading. Newspaper is very fragile though, you'll want to hang it somewhere where it doesn't get direct sunlight on it.

This. You really need the UV protection glass to protect stuff, and the acid free backing as well.

Szechuanosaurus

It is lignin which turns paper yellow, via oxidation in exposure to air and sunlight - the more lignin is exposed the quicker it'll oxidise. Higher quality paper has been chemically processed to remove most of the lignin so it will resist yellowing much longer - if it's been completely removed and the paper is manufactured from pure cellulose it should resist yellowing indefinitely. Newsprint is low-grade paper and has a high quantity of lignin in it which is why it yellows relatively quickly. The only way to prevent that is to protect it from exposure to air and sunlight.

I guess I would recommend a UV protective encapsulation - as in, a laminate that protects against UV sunlight applied to both sides of the paper with an overlap to encapsulate it and make it airtight. The edge to edge encapsulation will protect the paper against oxidisation as well as any other environmental threats (spilt coffee etc.) whilst the UV resistance will help prevent against oxidisation and ink fading.

Most high street print shops should be able to encapsulate documents but you might need to ask around to a) find somewhere that can encapsulate a broadsheet and b) find somewhere that knows if it's laminate is UV resistant. This may involve going to a specialist print shop/finisher or sign maker eg. You may also want to see examples of different encapsulate finishes such as gloss or matt to decide which would be most appropriate for displaying the newspaper (gloss will reflect light, matt shouldn't but may look duller etc.).

urahonky

I'm pretty sure it's light, so yeah... You'll need a UV protective case. Make sure to keep it away from high humid areas as well (don't hang it in the bathroom!) and keep as much air out as you can.

RUNN1NGMAN

Newsprint is really impossible to preserve. You're better off buying a reproduction of the front page and framing that, and sticking that actual paper in between two pieces of alkaline archival paper inside an inert airtight bag designed for archival, and then storing the paper flat.

Newsprint is really crappy paper, it's going to degrade no matter what you try to do if you want to display it.

THEPAIN73

Frame shop would be your best bet.