How to Store the Magazine Back Issues? Here are Some Tips and Advice…

All paper will eventually rot away. Therefore, it is in many ways a battle against overwhelming odds. There is however no reason to panic. We can contribute greatly to increase the time it takes for paper to disappear. And we can successfully keep the magazines "alive" as long as we live.

In general, magazines should be kept cool, dry and dark. This is the most important. If they are in binders or plastic sleeves are generally less important. Here is an elaboration:

Climate

Temperature

A temperature of around 59-64 degrees F is very good. In theory its better the cooler it is, but it is only in theory. The magazine will easily get moisture damage if taken from a very cold room to a warm. And the magazines in the collection will often be taken out for various reasons (reading, registration, dividends, etc.). Therefore, I recommend a temperature which should be no colder than about 54 degrees F. But for those of us who should have magazines from our own lifetime, it is ok with a temperature of 59-64 degrees F - perhaps up to 68 degrees F if other conditions are good.

Light

It should be as dark as possible in the room. Preferably there should be no windows. In any case, these should be covered so that sunlight will not be allowed to enter. Sunlight will weaken the color of the magazines over time! Fluorescent tubes are not good — these are much more harmful to the magazines than "good old light bulbs." Also a lot of light bulbs are hazardous. Although I have 16 light bulbs in the ceiling. It is of course limited how much indoor lighting damages the magazines, but the less light the better. Therefore magazines should always be in a dark environment when not in use (most magazines are not scared of the dark, although there are exceptions).

Moisture

Moisture is probably the biggest enemy to the magazine back issue collection! Too much moisture destroys the magazines very fast! Several of you have probably seen magazines that have looked unread, but with staples that are completely rusted all the way through. I have, and it does not look pretty! It is clearly magazines with staples that are most damaged by moisture, but also other magazines decay much faster when there is moist. And if the humidity level goes over to a watery condition, then the magazines are totally destroyed — wavy and uneven!

Physical Storage

Binders with Snap Closure

These are available in several editions and they vary greatly in quality. The oldest which has a steel rod in the back is probably the best. Strictly speaking these are not snap closure binders, but they are so closely related that I write about them here. As for the binders with snap closure, the worst of them are not suitable to keep the magazine back issues in. Snap closure just ruins the magazines. The newer binders with snap closure has improved and destroys the magazines only at a very small extent. Yet a snap closure binder will always be detrimental to the magazines. Some will argue that magazines take less damage when they are in binders, but then assumes that the alternative is worse. And it does not have to be!

Ring Binder

Ring Binders can be used in different variations to insert pockets in. There are pockets that are acid-free and intended for stamps that can be put in binders. Many of these are very suitable for storing magazines.

DO NOT make binder holes directly in the magazine! It is far worse than to bringing them with you in the shower! Magazines that are inserted directly in the binder is the worst storage and must not take place!

Plastic Pockets

Available in two main groups: acid and acid-free. The acid-free are clearly the best as they are actually delaying the time it takes for a magazine to rot. There are even companies that accept magazines and base process them (so that the acid is neutralized in the paper), then seal them in acid free plastic. This is clearly the best way to store magazines, but it is terribly expensive — so expensive that for ordinary collectors it will not be a possibility. One thing that is important to remember when the magazines have not been base treated, is that it contains acid. Therefore, do NOT close the plastic regardless of the plastic pocket type. Then you just enclose the acid together with the magazine. The pockets of acid are really only suitable for temporary storage — e.g. in connection with the sale or shipment. The acid in these pockets contribute negatively according to the decay of the paper.

Mylar bags are a type of plastic sleeves that are acid-free. They are in a fairly large type that is very good to store magazines in. There is only one major drawback — they are expensive. Your money will disappear quickly, even on smaller collections. It can, especially on new pockets look like there is oil on them (they shine in different colors). This is not oil, but simply light that cuts between two surfaces.

Magazine Collectors / "Storage Box"

Usually consist of plastic or cardboard. Both are good as they are physically very good with the magazine (at least when the magazine is standing still in the storage box). It may in some types of cardboard to be uneven for various tabs that are put together. It can easily be fixed by adding a cardboard in the bottom. Many plastic cartridges have a lot of holes that magazines can easily be damaged by the insertion. If you have magazines wrapped in plastic (especially the stiff mylar bags) and then putting them in cassette, then you have the magazines very well preserved.

"Right on the Shelf"

Many of us place a greater portion of the collection right on shelves without any other form of protection. It works well if you have taken some precautions. First of all surfaces should be completely smooth and slippery and obviously completely clean. In addition, the shelves should not be too wide. How wide they can be is very dependent on the type of magazines you have in them. Soft magazines in large format is more suited to lay down on the shelf instead of having them standing upright. The magazines will not be damaged by lying down. The main reason that we do not have magazines lying in large quantities is availability, and large piles are difficult to deal with.

In general, I recommend that you do not have shelves wider than 24 inches. This may be too much with soft magazines, but it is practically difficult to make them much less. Moreover, it is excellent to use magazine collectors on the shelves where it is use for it.

Magazines That are Released in a Plastic Wrapping

The most serious collectors among us choose to do it differently. As for me, I collect magazines in the original plastic wrapping without taking the issue out. But many others choose to remove it from the plastic and keep the magazine in a box.

I collect magazines in plastic because this was the way they were sold. I want to keep them in the same way in my collection. There are some good reasons for taking the magazine out of the plastic wrapping. The most important thing is that the magazine can be destroyed by the material that plastic is made of. Another is that it takes a lot of space to store magazines in plastic.

All in all it comes down to what you want yourself. One method is not necessarily more "sensible" than the other (if you can call collecting sensible at all).