Possible Album Solution For Priority Mail Covers

I've been interested in starting a priority mail cover collection but I have been having difficulties in finding a good album. Today at Hobby Lobby I found an an Itoya 11x14 Art Portfolio that I "think" might work.

However, if people in the community have a better album solution for Priority Mail covers, please let me know and share some pictures of your setup.

Thanks!




*** Moved by Staff to a more appropriate forum. ***

Over sized items are always difficult to house safely.

I have over a dozen of these ArtProfolio's, in sizes from 9" x 12" up to 18" x 24", which are used to house several different "collections." I use them to store oversize historical documents - primarily my postmaster commissions collection, over sized post office forms, and even family photographs that are too large for a conventional photograph album.

In additional to the style shown which has 24 pages with the black divider, so you can store 48 items, they have another variety which has only 12 pages, and thus holds only 24 items. These are convenient if you only have a small group of something you want to store together in an album. Their biggest problem is finding a safe but easily accessible place to store them because of their size. They really need to be stored flat.

I would recommend them without reservation.

Mike

I do not collect these, as such.
I do keep a record of those that pass my desk,
I keep a digital record in that country's folder.
I scan and note the release number if shown.
Then saved in a box in the attic.

The priority mail envelopes are made from cardboard and obviously not 'acid free'. Conservation requires adding buffering to prevent the inevitable breakdown of the cardboard although with a great storage environment the deterioration can be slowed.

There are commercial 'deacidification sprays' buffering sprays which could be applied but they are costly. Instead, I would be tempted to 'powder' the inside of the priority mail envelopes with light dusting of baking soda.
Don

Hi Rodney,
Yikes! Attics are typically not known for having good archival environmental conditions.
Don

Hi Don,
my attic is different.
Optimum conditions suggest (if memory serves) 18-22 degrees (C), at 45-50% humidity.
I'd be around those conditions most of the year, winter can get down to zero,
but inside is 15-17 degrees.
My "attic" is a platform above my entrance hall.

The big test though is physical, I have opened boxes I have had for 10 years, and I see no deterioration at all.
The end result is I am doing the best I can, with what I have.

Rats as conservators.
Rats were the 'first curators' at Sydney museum
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-02...ors/11980680

This is one of those threads where you wonder did you reach about something.