Question re: autograph preservation/UV lighting

Sheamaster

I have a lot of autographed photos, some 16" x 20" but mostly 8" x 10". I have had a lot of these (more expensive ones like Mantle/Dimaggio, etc) professionally framed and matted with the highest level of UV protection (according to what they told me).

But, I also have about 20 or so 8x10s that I want to frame in a cheaper frame with matting that I can just buy at a Kohl's, Target, etc. I presume these frames/glass offer minimal to no UV protection.

So, here is my question: What type of light is harmful to fading photographs/autographs? Is it sunlight that comes through the window, artificial lighting in the room or both. In other words, if these pictures are displayed in a basement with no windows, are they still subject to fading from the lighting?

I also have autographed football helmets that are on display in a glass cabinet (presumably no UV protection). Same goes for these?

Any help is greatly appreciated.

HockeyAutoCollector

From what I have been told, any light source that gives off UV will damage autographs. Fluorescent light will eventually damage autographs. I read that regular glass protects against approximately 49% of the UV rays while conservation glass protects against 99%.

So I guess to answer your question, if you are using lights in the basement that give off UV, then yes the autographs can be damaged. But it will take much longer than it would if the autographs were in direct sunlight. My collection is in my basement with no sunlight and no UV lights and I have not had any issues with fading while using both conservation glass and regular glass/plexiglass.

rube26105

i know i lost alot of great military autographs years ago due to direct sunlight and because of my stupidity on the subject,it never even crossed my mind untill it was too late,,all my baseballs i have in uv cubes, they look the same as reg ones to me id like to know about the uv cube protection too ,same goes for fb's

hows your knuckes set of the millinium collection going sean,getting anything new made???


that bring up another good question, are psa slabs uv protected for autos like your awsome collection?

storm888

Some of my less valuable political ones have all but vanished, after being displayed carelessly for many years.

Darin

This has been a problem right from the start(of the country).

The longest of the early sojourns of the Declaration was from 1841 to 1876. Daniel Webster was Secretary of State in 1841. On June 11 he wrote to Commissioner of Patents Henry L. Ellsworth, who was then occupying a new building (now the National Portrait Gallery), that "having learned that there is in the new building appropriated to the Patent Office suitable accommodations for the safe-keeping, as well as the exhibition of the various articles now deposited in this Department, and usually, exhibited to visitors . . . I have directed them to be transmitted to you." An inventory accompanied the letter. Item 6 was the Declaration.

The "new building" was a white stone structure at Seventh and F Streets. The Declaration and Washington's commission as commander in chief were mounted together in a single frame and hung in a white painted hall opposite a window offering exposure to sunlight. There they were to remain on exhibit for 35 years, even after the Patent Office separated from the State Department to become administratively a part of the Interior Department. This prolonged exposure to sunlight accelerated the deterioration of the ink and parchment of the Declaration, which was approaching 100 years of age toward the end of this period.

HockeyAutoCollector

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hows your knuckes set of the millinium collection going sean,getting anything new made???


that bring up another good question, are psa slabs uv protected for autos like your awsome collection? >>



Hey Rube, I have heard that PSA slabs are not UV protected. Also, I am getting more cards made by Knuckles. He is working on another 49 for me right now and I should have another 20-25 for him some time soon. He has sent me some designs that I will post to my thread when I get a little more time.

eel

You should try the picture shields UV inserts for those 8X10's. You can get the info at their website, pictureshields.com. We can buy them in town here. They around $5 for two 8X10's. UV glass that size costs about $14.00. They are thin but not wavy and simply slide into an existing frame. You can cut the 5X7's to fit over trading cards.

TNTonPMS

I agree any kind of light will damage the sigs, really the only way to protect them is to keep them in complete darkness , I have noticed a lot of fading on my Nolan Ryan, Jeter and Ripken JR and mine are and always have been in UV protected display case , the plastic has a purplish tint to it , rather than just clear .