Paper! Paper! Paper!

So, now that I have a subscription to stampalbums.com, it's time to start printing out some pages.

I was originally going to use 67 lb. acid free coverstock you can buy at Staples.

But then I got the idea to use 100% cotton paper, which is supposed to be naturally acid free, since it's cotton and not wood pulp. Anyone have experience with cotton paper? How does it hold up over time?

Other than the cost would be higher, I do not see any reason why cotton fiber paper could not be used. Cotton fiber paper is usually not calendared to the same degree as wood pulp paper so feels softer and doesn't have a high sheen. Often the higher grade business papers are cotton since they have a more elegant look and feel. For my better pages, I use 110 lb archival card stock. For my normal pages, such as my Canada collection 2 which is used, I use a lighter weight.

Cotton paper is also 100% acid free and will not acidify over time.

I use 65lb cover stock from Kinko's, a little cheaper than Staples for the same product.

When you say 'will not acidify over time', what is the time frame you talk about? Few years, a decade??

Ram

Here's some interesting reading on the subject:

http://www.stampsrart.com/paper-phi...ilately.html

Yikes.. akaline buffered paper! Another term that I need to learn :)

Thanks wt1 for the link.

Has anyone on this forum used this kind of paper? I did a quick web search and did not come up with any stores selling this. Maybe I searched wrong

Cheers
Ram

Alkaline Buffered Paper is probably overkill for a stamp collection as the cost can get into $40 to $60 per package of paper. The effects that this product would have on a page of a stamp collection will probably not show itself until after our lifetimes. The common acid-free paper you find in most stores are alkaline neutral. It just doesn't have the extra alkaline buffering that would preserve documents (in our case, stamps) over longer periods of time.

Archivists will use alkaline buffered paper for long term preservation (i.e. 100-300 years). Also keep in mind that there is probably more acid in the paper the stamps are printed on than in the paper used to mount them. Here's an article dealing with that very subject:

http://stamps.org/userfiles/file/pc...idiary_2.pdf

If you're really interested in alkaline buffering, there's a spray on option you can apply for about $15 or $20 a bottle available at most hobby or craft stores. It is said not to affect stamps and/or tagging on stamps, either:

http://www.acmoore.com/p-52922-arch...-ounces.aspx

For more reading on alkaline buffered papers and its use in archival quality storage, here's further reading:

http://www.nps.gov/museum/publicati...am/04-09.pdf

http://www.mohawkpaper.com/pdfs/Pap...rmanence.pdf

I know it's information overload ... but thank the internet for providing this information at our fingertips.

My understanding is that the wood pulp in paper will start to acidify over time. Acid free paper has had the acid removed by the addition of neutralizing alkaline, so it is ph neutral at the time of purchase. The wood pulp in the paper can still break down and acidify at some point. Since 100% cotton paper has no wood pulp, it should be acid free permanently, or at least that is what I was lead to believe.

From my communication with an archivist at the National Archives and Records administration, I was told that cotton paper is considered archival quality.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cotton_paper

Good write up on cotton paper.

I use Cotton Paper and it is fine. I use 24lb and it feels much heavier.

Dianne

wt1,

Thanks for the detailed info. If my collection remains mostly intact in my lifetime, that is all I ask. So no alkaline buffer for me.. perhaps when I decide to win that lottery.. maybe :))

Ram

Another interesting article.

http://www.trueart.info/paper_chemistry.htm

I think the real trick to paper lasting a long time is to keep it away from harsh light and keep the temp/humidity under control.

rough outlines here:

http://www.loc.gov/preservation/care/paper.html

That said...I like 100% cotton paper - it's lignin free so acid isnt a factor. Feels nice too - has a nice "snap" to it.

Anyone know where to source cotton paper in Australia?

For Aussies who use gsm

Rod

Check out the larger stationary stores. Then go to the section that has fine business paper or resume paper. You may be able to check it out on line as well.

Hope this helps

Dianne

I use Wausau Paper Premium cardstock 65 lbs. Lignin free and Acid free
archival Type. There are other few companies. Look for Acid free and lignin free archival.
65,67,110 lbs. are in market but 65 easily available from Office Product stores.

tikithindi