posted 06-30-2005 09:49 AM               

There's a few things you can do to help stop any further fading or degradation to the paper.

Keep the paper out of the sun or any exposure to UV light. If you live in a humid area, keep the items protected between the pages of a thick book until you can ask a pro what the best way is to display & preserve them.

Depending on how important these autographs are to you, the fastest & easiest way to protect them from further damage is to put them in an airtight box, then fill the box with food grade nitrogen (wine saver works great) to remove the air. This will stop any further oxidation of the paper or fading of the signatures.

Most large library's have a document restoration dept, you can contact them to ask if these papers might be dipped in a solution that will neutralize the acid in your paper and stop any further damage.

Most paper made after the 1920's has an acid that oxidizes, turns the paper brown, brittle and fades it. Unfortunately you can't reverse oxidation damage and if the paper is fading too much, you may not be able to display them without damaging them any further.