Caring for Your Map Collection

Sources of info for care of your ephemera

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Whether you want to keep a big or small collection of maps, there are some things that you must face up to about the media; paper is, in the main, perishable.

Maps, generally speaking, seem to be made of sterner stuff than regular paper goods (paperback books, newsprint, and the like). They can still degrade over time, even if made of the best stuff on earth, if handled and stored badly or carelessly. What follows is a set of general guidelines on good handling and storage of your precious pieces, and can be thought of a general guide to taking care of all your paper ephemera:

1. Become An Environmentalist: It should go without saying that paper is very sensitive to changes in environment–temperature, humdity, and that sort of thing. Anyone who has ever used watercolor paper knows what happens when it gets wet; that particular waving is called cockling. For maps, printed on paper not meant to be watercolored on, this can be critically damaging. Best humidity is around 40-50%; best also not to store your collection in areas such as basements and cellars.
2. Set Them Up Right: The absolute best storage is to store them flat. Most maps are folded when sold to the public or when rescued from an estate sale, but folding stresses the paper, marring the size (the smooth surface of the paper) and breaking the fibres. This provides for the beginnings of decay.
3. Treat Them With Respect: The less direct handling the better, but one reason anyone collects maps is to view them, after all. When handling them handle them with care; if they must stay folded, fold and refold them with caution. Handle with clean hands and respect.
4. Make The Light Fantastic: Perhaps more than other ephemera, maps are susceptible to ultraviolet light and pollution (some sorts the original piece never dreamt it would see). Lint, smoke, fumes from office machines (copiers, et. al.) don’t damage straight away, but will in time. Such damage can’t be completely prevented but can be mitigated to a great degree by filters on lights or filtering glass if mounted for hanging and, of course, never hanging in direct sunlight. If the presence of windows is unavoidable, drapes should be employed and kept closed as much as possible.

These are just a few suggestions collected by Your Faithful Author (and some which, he must admit, doesn’t follow as consistently as he should). For the complete story, follow the following links:

• This page at The Prime Meridian is a good general guide to map collection care and feeding for collectors by a collector.
• The Library of Congress has a page of care guidelines that is worthy of note
• The American Institute for Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works has a PDF available for download with instructions for the care and feeding of your ephemera collection, be it map, watercolor, or allied media.