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American Institute for Conservation of Historic and Artistic
Works (conservation-us.org) Conservation professionals
dedicated to preserving the art and historic artefacts of cultural
heritage for future generations. Website features notes and advice
on finding a conservator and caring for your treasures.
The Daguerreian Society (daguerre.org) Knowledgeable team
dedicated to the history, science and art of the daguerreotype.
Great sections on identification and caring for your artworks.
Image Permanence Institute
(imagepermanenceinstitute.org) Non-profit, university-based
laboratory devoted to preservation research. IPI developed the
Photographic Activity Test (PAT).
The Institute of Conservation (icon.org.uk) Non-profit
organisation raising awareness of the cultural, social and economic
value of caring for UK heritage. Website features notes and advice
on finding a conservator and caring for your collection.

Conservation Services Ltd (paperconservation.co.uk)
Specialist art restorers, concentrating on the conservation and
restoration of graphic works on paper and historic photographs.
Northeast Document Conservation Center (nedcc.org)
Specialists in the conservation and preservation of paper-based
collections. Website features excellent advice on caring for private,
public and family collections.
Sotheby’s (sothebys.com) Photographic sales held in London
(May), New York (April and October) and Paris (November). Special
sales are held at other times of the year as appropriate.
Silverprint (silverprint.co.uk) The suppliers of all things
photographic, including storage materials. The staff are helpful and
knowledgeable. Visit their shop at 120 London Road, London SE1
6LF or buy online.

FURTHER INFORMATION


Silverprint archival box for storing prints – vital for their safe preservation. Print in box by Sharon Easterling of Downtown Darkroom.

© Silverprint

as it’s not considered chemically stable.
Regardless of whether you use paper or
plastic storage, make sure that each picture
has its own separate enclosure. Once all the
pieces are safely ensconced, store them in
acid-free boxes or folders. If your collection
comprises mainly prints, consider storing
them horizontally to minimise the risk
of bending. Obviously, images with glass
fronts (such as daguerreotypes) should be
stored vertically to reduce pressure on the

glass. Inspect your collection regularly
for damage; if you notice one piece is
beginning to deteriorate, isolate it from
the others immediately.

If a photograph becomes seriously
damaged, enlist the help of a conservationist.
These individuals offer guidance on storage,
display, restoration and even cleaning. In
short, if you’re not qualified, don’t attempt
to repair a picture yourself. If, after seeking
expert advice, the item is found to be
irreparable, don’t be too disheartened; some
chemicals are inherently unstable, and
there’s nothing you can do to force an image
to outlive its natural shelf life.

‘Insects such as silverfi sh and


cockroaches enjoy the taste of
gelatin and albumen, so don’t

make an easy meal for them.’


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