Preservation and Care of Philatelic Materials
Subsidiary Page
25
Photographic Materials and Albums
Most philatelists have photographs, slides, negatives, and related photographic items.
Most materials used for storage, especially plastics, have been discussed previously.
Some of the commercial albums available over the past few years have been a disaster
to those who used them. PVC (polyvinyl chloride) is still made into products and
sold as ideal for photographic storage, although it has been condemned for decades
as a proven unsafe material. Phthalate plasticizers migrate from PVC and form
yellow oily droplets on slides. Slides and films stored in PVC pockets or enclosures
will have a waxy film on their surface. These are carboxylate salts of a type
used as heat stabilizers in PVC. PVC film will degrade photographs by producing
acidic hydrogen chloride. Do not use PVC, which is proven to be an unsafe material.
Avoid using so-called "magnetic albums," which are adhesive-coated pages wrapped
in a plastic cover. The adhesive coating gives off gaseous impurities. The clear
plastic covering is generally vinyl or acetate, materials that cannot be recommended.
Since some photographic materials are alkaline-sensitive, it is advisable to use
neutral pH rather than buffered storage material for storing photographs.
Other materials commonly used in conjuction with photographic albums but which are to
be avoided by the philatelist include: cellophane adhesive tapes, white glues, rubber
cement, ballpoint pens, typewritting on photos or valuable papers, paper clips, and rubber
bands. All are potentially harmful to philatelic materials.
Polyester film (Mylar), available in rolls or prepared folders, sleeves, and envelopes, is a
recommended material. In most cases, other types of plastic film should not be
substituted. Covers and postcards with media such as charcoal, chalk or pastel should not
be stored in Mylar since the polyester film can pick up and hold an electrostatic charge.
These media may offset onto the Mylar as a result.
Today, we notice vast improvements in the use of acid-free materials in photographic
albums. Because of the use of better materials, the price of albums has escalated. The
public has become aware of the harmful effect that acidic materials do to their
photographs. As a result, manufacturers are striving to provide more acceptable
merchandise.
The author checked a number of albums with mixed results. Black Photo Corporation
of Markham, Ontario, sells a variety of products. Their Select Series refills
SKU 7265, described as acid-free, uses polypropylene inert film that has no coating.
This is the next best material to Mylar, and is satisfactory. The paper divider
used by the Black Photo Corporation is acid-free. Their magnetic photo album pages
are slightly acidic, ranging between pH 6.6 and 7.0.
Desmarais and Frére Ltée of Longueuil, Quebec, sells a range of clear plastic
sheets with pockets for holding photographs and negatives of various sizes. These sheets
are punched for use in standard binders, and are widely distributed in Canada. Several
letters were sent to the Desmarais and Frére Ltée firm asking for information
on the type of plastic film used in their DF clear plastic storage pages described in their
literature as "archival quality." No reply was ever received. The author notes that this
company has quietly shifted to a poly-type film. The new product, while not as good as
Mylar, has much better archival qualities than the plastic formerly used.
More and more products manufactured by various companies for storing photographs are
being tested by the Image Permanence Institute of Rochester, New York. They use the
American National Standards Institute's IT9.2-1988 standard.
END OF SUBSIDIARY PAGE 25
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