Vacuum packaging

Mark Clarke writes on the use of vacuum packaging for archival
storage in the Cameroons.  I fully endorse the recommendations made
by Jerry Shiner, for this procedure takes little cogniscance of the
moisture content of the materials for the enclosed.  The question
arises whether this is an appropriate response to a third world
problem, since, where stable environmental conditions are unlikely
to be guaranteed, the additional precautionary measures recommended
are both essential and costly.

A further consideration is  whether a simple paper or card wrapper
would not provide and additional buffer, slowing the autocatalytic
oxidative degradation described by Judith Hofenk de Graaf (1994):
Research into the cause of browning. Amsterdam: Centraal
Laboratorium. Before employing this technique, I would recommend the
report on shrinkwrapping conducted a few years back by NARA, which
elaborates on the autocatalytic degradation in such enclosures.
Perhaps someone there could provide the citation details.

Mrs Dale Peters
Paper Conservator
Campbell Collections of the University of Natal
220 Marriott Road
Durban 4001
South Africa
+27 31 260 2306
Fax: +27 31 291 622

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                  Conservation DistList Instance 10:75
               Distributed: Wednesday, February 26, 1997
                       Message Id: cdl-10-75-004
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