Old Historic Newspapers

There are a few single issues of important old historic newspapers, but they have been reprinted so often that the chance of having an original is slight. The Library of Congress Serial and Government Publications Division publishes information circulars that tell how to distinguish originals and copies of eighteen famous issues. The circulars are on […]

Newspapers

Old newspapers are not as valuable as most beginners believe. Some newspapers published in America from 1690 to 1860 are important, but most libraries today keep copies on microfilm, not the original, fragile paper. Do not destroy any pre-1860 newspaper before contacting a local historical society or an antiquarian bookseller. Some newspapers printed after 1860 […]

Care of Old Newspapers

Wood-pulp paper is merely a mass of cellulose fibers. Lignin, a component that acts as a binder, makes paper like newsprint brittle, weak, and short-lived. To preserve the information in a newspaper article, photocopy it on acid-free paper. However, if you want to preserve the newspaper article itself, try a milk of magnesia and club […]