Posts: 180
From: Chicago, IL, United States
Registered: Feb 2009

posted 10-25-2015 06:59 PM               

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In 2008 I purchased an autographed Harrison Schmitt 16" by 20" from Astronaut Central. The photo was shipped rolled up and I had only taken it out of the packing tube when I first received it. I am curious if by keeping it rolled up in storage I have done harm to it. Any opinions would be appreciated.

...and yes, I should have framed it but have never gotten around to it. Thanks.

Posts: 1634
From: Smithfield, Me, USA
Registered: Mar 2005

posted 10-25-2015 09:23 PM               

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I have an Apollo 17 moon panorama signed by 9 of the guys who went to the moon. The Cernan and Aldrin signatures are absolutely perfect! The Dave Scott is unusually large. It is beautifully framed but it still shows that is was rolled up. I'd like to add more astronauts but that would require pulling it out of the frame and rolling it up again. Not sure I want to do that.

But if I do un-frame it I could carry it to the ASF Space Rendezvous and add Gordon and Stafford. Then maybe add Borman and Collins if they do another through the mail signing. What should I do??

Posts: 1015
From: Lausanne
Registered: Apr 2012

posted 10-25-2015 10:44 PM            

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I have a lot of 16x20s and large panoramas. My experience is that provided environmental conditions are reasonable (heat and moisture), rolled up storage is adequate.

However, framing straight from rolled up is not great. Prior to framing my pictures are always stored flat for at least a year, interleaved as necessary with unbuffered, acid free tissue paper. I've found suitably sized acrylic sheet is good for keeping pictures flat and transport to framers - making sure the framer returns the sheets of course.

My best piece is still unframed and signed by 15 lunar voyagers. It's stored flat and taken to shows flat. It will never be "complete", but I do still hope to add Schmitt, hence it's still unframed.

Once framed I'm loath to take them apart - I suppose I would for the right autograph. Unless a signer is super rare I'd sooner start a new piece. No matter how careful you are, the more you handle these pictures, the more damage you risk. And talking of damage, although the through the mail guys are very careful, over the years I've probably had half a dozen or so pictures sustain significant edge damage. How it happened is always a mystery, and I do wonder if couriers/ mail offices have opened them.

Posts: 384
From: Greensboro, NC USA
Registered: Aug 2012

posted 10-26-2015 01:29 PM               

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quote:

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Originally posted by MCroft04:
I have an Apollo 17 moon panorama... it still shows that is was rolled up... if I do un-frame it I could carry it to the ASF Space Rendezvous and add Gordon and Stafford. Then maybe add Borman and Collins if they do another through the mail signing. What should I do??

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Since you KNOW you'd be happier having it properly flattened, you really should un-frame it and add Gordon and Stafford.

However, I would NEVER consider sending something like that through the mail, nor even allow a courier to take it back and forth. It's irreplaceable now.