Abstract
THIRTY-THREE years ago the Carnegie Institution of Washington, after careful inquiry, decided that papers made of rags of the best grade gave the greatest promise of durability, and since then the more important books published by the Institution have been printed upon specially made all-rag paper (Carnegie Inst., Washington, Report of Editor of Division of Publications for year 1934-35, p. 371). Increasing costs of such paper, together with the fact that the supremacy of all-rag paper has been challenged, led to a new investigation, which has just been completed. The value of rag paper is confirmed, for all investigators agreed about its satisfactory behaviour over long periods, but attention is directed to factors other than quality which affect the lasting property of paper. For example, disintegration is hastened when paper is stored in atmospheres rendered acidic by the presence of sulphur dioxide. It is recommended that permanent records should be stored under controlled atmospheric conditions of 50 per cent relative humidity and 70 °-75 ° F. temperature. It is doubtful if paper made from chemically treated wood fibres would stand as well, but the evidence is not strong enough to induce the Institute to cast aside its rags.
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Lasting Qualities of Printing Paper. Nature 137, 812 (1936). https://doi.org/10.1038/137812b0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/137812b0