Rooms to avoid
Lofts swing between freezing and very hot. Garages and cellars bring damp and pests. Kitchens and bathrooms add grease and steam. A wardrobe or under-bed space in a heated bedroom outperforms all of them.
Materials that are safe
Use acid-free folders, polyester sleeves and archival boxes. Avoid PVC pockets, which can leach plasticiser onto ink, and avoid ordinary cardboard boxes in long-term contact with paper.
- Store flat wherever possible, never rolled
- Interleave photographs with acid-free tissue
- Keep shirts folded loosely with tissue at the folds
- Store frames upright, on edge, never stacked flat
Keep the paperwork with the piece
Certificates and invoices should be stored alongside the item, or at least indexed to it. Separated paperwork loses value for both you and any future owner.
Need a straight answer on a specific piece?
Send photographs and we'll give you an honest opinion — whether you're buying, selling or simply curious. You can also visit us at 87 Princes Street, Southend-on-Sea, Tuesday to Saturday, 10am–4pm.