As many postcard collectors know, soil/stains/foxing, edge tears, worn/rounded corners, creases/bends, and mold are a few of the deteriorations that can occur to postcards, will weaken them, and are irreversible.  There are steps a postcard collector can and should take to prevent deterioration from happening or getting worse.  Below you will find recommended steps to help a collector preserve and enjoy their collection for years to come.

Recommendations for Preserving A Postcard Collection:

1.  The best protection for a collection is a cool, dry, stable environment with little fluctuation in temperature and humidity.  This is because heat and moisture accelerate postcard deterioration.  High humidity can lead to foxing or mold growth.  Storage below 72 degrees, with 35% humidity, therefore is recommended according to the Library of Congress.

2.  Too bright a light, too long an exposure to light, or exposure to light with a high UV (ultra violet) will also deteriorate postcards faster causing fading, yellowing, and brittleness.  This is why a collector should never display postcards in or near sunlight for very long.  Try to keep collections in the dark as much as possible (except when taken out for viewing enjoyment of course).

3. Consider steps 1 and 2 when deciding where to store your collection.  Avoid attics and basements as they're known to have excessive heat and/or moisture problems.  Also avoid storing collections near water sources, including air-conditioning equipment.  Keep in mind what is in the room above and below a collection as well.  Don't display or store a collection over or near heat sources (i.e. fireplaces, heat ducts/vents, etc.).  Hallways and rooms without windows are a good place to display collections.

4. Hands should be clean and dry before handling postcards.  The oils from fingers can cause staining on the postcard.  Also avoid having food and/or drinks in the area of the collection to reduce damage from accidental spills. 

5. Plastics used in sleeves, both soft and rigid, have added chemicals that will eventually break down and harm a postcard.  There are archival quality albums and sleeves that are free from these chemicals.  Two types of materials used to make them are polyester (known as Mylar), and uPVC (unplasticized polyvinylchloride).  Note, "acid-free" is a characteristic of papers, not plastics.

6. Use only archival quality (i.e. Mylar) sleeves (soft or rigid) and boxes.  These will protect postcards from skin oils, water damage, and other deteriorations.  Make sure boxes have no handle holes and lids are snug.  Handle holes would negate protection from water damage and other pollutants (i.e. ozone, fumes, smoke).  It would be like an open window in a car during a rainstorm.  Also, make sure boxes are low-lignin or lignin-free, and buffered.  Lignin is a paper component that leads to acid formation.  Buffered is the process of adding a buffer during manufacturing to neutralize acids as they form over time in the storage materials.

7. If an album is used to store a postcard collection, the pockets of the archival quality album pages shouldn't be a tight fit.  Inserting and removing postcards from page pockets increases the risk of creases, bends, and bumped corners (especially form tight pockets).  The pocket openings should also be on the inside facing the album rings to prevent accidentally falling out, which could potentially damage the postcard.  Don't store postcards back-to-back in the same pocket due to the increased chance of moisture being trapped.  Not storing back-to-back also exposes the postcard back, which is sometimes just as interesting as the front (pre-printed images/advertising/DPO postmarks/etc.).

8. Don't stack postcards as that causes damage to embossing due to the weight of other postcards on top of them.  Postcard albums should be stored upright for this reason.

9. Be careful not to fill boxes too full, making it difficult to remove or insert postcards.  Difficulty inserting or removing postcards is just asking to add a bend and/or crease to a postcard.  On the other hand, boxes that are too empty have a tendency to cause postcards to curl (like slouching in a chair).  Add filler for support in that case. 

One last tip: If one wishes to frame a postcard, be sure to ask for museum mounting!  If the shop doesn't know what that is, go to another store.  Museum mounting will help protect your postcard from indoor pollutants and dirt, a growing problem in energy-conscious spaces with good insulation.  Also, be sure the shop uses UV filtering glazing (glass) in the frames.

Feel free to visit my About Me page where I've scanned several postcards from my personal collection.  (Digitizing a collection is another method of preserving postcards).  If you found this reference guide helpful, please let me know by voting yes (see below).  Also, be sure to let your fellow postcard collector friends know about this helpful guide.

Soda_Santa,  REMEMBER WHEN VINTAGE POSTCARDS