What's the best way to preserve paper?

Question

My father has an antique projector. He found the manual for it, and apparently, it was printed in December of 1954 by the U.S. Army Department. Currently, he has it wrapped up in saran wrap - causing the book to be slightly bent, and both the projector and manual are outside in our storage shed, in the Southern U.S. heat. Also, if you could, can you estimate the value of the projector, and how do we keep the projector in good condition?

Answer 1

Take the book and photocopy the pages. The copyright has expired, so you should not have a problem there. The original paper should be sealed in an acid-free pouch, and if you can, fill the pouch with nitrogen to displace the oxygen. Oxygen and sunlight are paper's enemies. Extreme heat will further deteriorate the paper as well, but cold will not have a detrimental effect, UNLESS you try to bend the paper when it is frozen.

The projector should bring about $.70 a pound for scrap, unless there is someone who really likes this kind of thing.