Ultraviolet radiation and its effect upon old documents

[Richard T Eger]

The following is from within a thread on 12 O'Clock High! and is in response to a question about a wartime map:

Rabe Anton
Luftwaffe Map
Fri Feb 14 21:55:39 2024
198.26.120.13

I deduce that you intend to have your German map framed for display. As an archivist, may I caution you against the display of the map you have described. Continuous exposure of paper, especially poor quality and/or old paper, to light will rapidly degrade both the printing and the stock itself owing to the effect of ultraviolet radiation present in ordinary lighting. A certain measure of protection may be obtained by utilizing special filtering glass, but this is expensive and has a finite effective life. If you value your relic and care about its preservation for future generations, don't display it on a day-in, day-out basis.

RA