How do I prevent the pages from yellowing on my favorite books and magazines?

Question

Particularly my magazines. I collect all the old Highlights For Children magazines going back about 60 years and the pages are starting to turn yellow. Is there something I can do to protect them?

Answer 1

Light, especially sunlight, yellows paper faster than anything. If you have your magazines out on shelves, or in stacks, consider getting storage boxes for them. You could even get archival sleeves and backboards for them and store them the way comic-book collectors do (a comics store would carry these, and probably be able to give you other advice on storing magazines). that way, your magazines would also be protected from humidity, airborne dirt and dust, fingerprints, spills, etc.

But no matter how careful you are about storage, the pages are still going to yellow with age because they're printed on cheap, acidic paper, which breaks down over time. You can slow the progress of it by storing them carefully, but unfortunately you can't stop it.  

Answer 2

Kboo,

Check with the National Archives and send them an email or a letter asking them that question. They handle these situations every single day. It's all about air temperature, moisture, and dust control to speak of a few. I took many courses there when I was working and the place is something to see.

Give them a try and see what happens.

PJ M

Answer 3

Place them in ziplock freezer bags...this will keep a lot of the air from getting to them.