CDVs - preservation advice

[Countryquine]

I have a number of Carte de Visite type photos and some early photos presented as postcards.

The CdVs in particular seem to be fading.

Any advice on how to stabilise this fading?

I intend scanning them to save but obviously the originals are important to keep.

Thanks

[Treetotal]

Hi, I am a collector of Cdvs and keep mine in albums, There are plenty for sale available on that well known Auction site e -*bay.
If you "google images- Cdv Albums there are many to choose from. They have cardboard sleeves to  to store them in and can be viewed without handling them.  They keep them flat and damp free.
Carol

[MollyC]

You need to be certain they are acid-free board.  Any plastic material must be chemically stable.  Polythene is not suitable.  Polyester is the preferred type.

[Treetotal]

The ones that I mentioned are specifically designed for Cdvs and as I mentioned, in cardboard sleeves not plastic.
Carol

[Countryquine]

Thanks for information/suggestions so far.

Do you think they could be preserved in their original album with acid-free paper interleaved?

[MollyC]

You need to ask the advice of a conservator who would look at your album.  Larger record offices employ a conservator, and it is part of their responsibilities to give advice, in the same way that archivists advise about documents.  In the first instance ask an archivist, to find out where their work is done, and how to get access to advice, which should be free - but everyone is suffering financial constraints!

[Jebber]

I keep all my documents in proper archival storage boxes as used by the archives. I do the same with books such as family Bibles I have inherited. It’s the only way to keep them from deteriorating.

[MollyC]

What is also important is stable temperature and humidity.  The average house is too warm and dry and varies too much.  Re plastics.  Polyester film is used by conservators to make sleeves for loose photos, and also for maps and fragile documents, but they should only be sealed on three sides.  I think one company markets loose-leaf album pages divided into the most usual photo sizes.

I'm just a bit concerned you say your photos are fading, if you have noticed them deteriorate while you have owned them.  I assume they have not been in the light.  There is a possiblity there is some chemical instability within them, because of the original process which produced them.  That is why I think you should have them looked at, because an expert may recognise what is happening and what may be done to stabilise them.

[Countryquine]

What is also important is stable temperature and humidity.  The average house is too warm and dry and varies too much.  Re plastics.  Polyester film is used by conservators to make sleeves for loose photos, and also for maps and fragile documents, but they should only be sealed on three sides.  I think one company markets loose-leaf album pages divided into the most usual photo sizes.

I'm just a bit concerned you say your photos are fading, if you have noticed them deteriorate while you have owned them.  I assume they have not been in the light.  There is a possiblity there is some chemical instability within them, because of the original process which produced them.  That is why I think you should have them looked at, because an expert may recognise what is happening and what may be done to stabilise them.

Thanks MollyC

While I said 'fading', I suppose I should have said 'faded'.   I suspect some are considerably older than others, and photography processes may have a bearing on this.  The 'fortunate' part is that I live in an old house, they lived in my parents' old house, and warm and dry are not adjectives you would use to describe either.

I will get some to look at them locally, with the hope that they can help.