Large scale preservation

Andrew Richmond mentioned that he had a large number of books bound
with deteriorating lambskin and was looking for a method of
interim?/long term? preservation.

Storage of these volumes in an anoxic environment should slow or
arrest the degradation.  The volumes could be packed individually or
in groups in barrier film envelopes. The envelopes may be sealed
with a reusable sealing clip, or with a tacking iron or heat seal
press (an advantage for security.)  An oxygen scavenger added before
sealing will remove the oxygen from the enclosed air.

A further advantage to this storage method is the protection from
insects, airborne pollutants and indirect fire damage (smoke and
water). Although this packaging method is now used primarily in the
west for short term treatments to kill insects in infested
materials, I understand that the Chinese use this technique as a
permanent storage method for much of their collections.

I would be very interested in any feedback or anecdotal information
from the conservation community about anoxic storage for long-term
protection of objects. Thank you,

Jerry Shiner
Keepsafe Systems Anoxic Supplies
800-683-4696

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                  Conservation DistList Instance 10:14
                 Distributed: Thursday, August 1, 1996
                       Message Id: cdl-10-14-002
                                  ***