How To Store And Display Awards.

[UQWozza]

I also use these pouches for my medals and larger sleeves for documents.

I always go for "archival quality, acid-free" materials.

I went to the local museum and talked to one of their specialists. He then told me about their suppliers. I now use them for my purchases.

I am in a hot and humid environment so I have to be very careful with storage as things can grow mold very quickly.

Simon

[Sergei]

Until I find proper envelopes, can I use something from the kitchen, sandwich wrappers perhaps? Or microwaveable plastic bags - these are supposed to be non-reactant?
Sergei

[UQWozza]

The museum specialist I talked to said that standard bags are OK for short-term (3 months) storage but definitely NOT for long-term. According to him most that are on the market here are reactive in the long-term.

Simon

[Sergei]

The museum specialist I talked to said that standard bags are OK for short-term (3 months) storage but definitely NOT for long-term. According to him most that are on the market here are reactive in the long-term.

Simon

Thanks Simon,
A couple of brass medals I have got damaged quite badly .
Sergei

[travel-north]

As my collection is growing, I can no longer fit it in a business cards holder. So I bought plastic pouches from a numismatist supplier. I couldn't get specific info about the material, but these pouches are made in Germany and are intended for collecting.

Sergei, where did you get your bad pouches? Were they collecting pouches?

[travel-north]

I currently have c3000 awards in plastic envelopes and frankly I wouldn't have a clue how to store the quantity without these uniform sized envelopes. I buy all the "Medal" size ones for a single source and all are uniform and I buy all the "Miniature" size from another source buy they are also uniform.

The "Medal" size ones easily eat nearly all Medals and Orders on Kolodkas (although some Orders are a bit too big) and the "Miniature" size ones are perfect for the standard DPRK Medals and Medals on rectangular suspensions like the 100th anniversary of Lenin.

I did a nice bit of research before I started enveloping the collection and bought what I thought was best for the money. So far no issues at all other than needing to buy more and more of them. A good tip when using them though is to give the award a wipe before it goes in (unless it is fresh from the mint) and also allow it to dry out if you've washed it. If not the envelope gets steamed up and there can be reactions caused by "stuff" on the surface of the Medal.

Both of these envelopes are purchased in bulk (500 at a time) from numismatist suppliers (I didn't purchase mine they were purchased for me so I have no details).

My envelopes are mainly stored in an oak cabinet with closed doors and in a reasonable climate so the sun, dust and rats don't get to them.

That's how I plan to store my medals. But my collection will never get as big because I collect only soviet I bought pouches now I need to get a proper box.

[CtahhR]

For almost 20 years my collection did not number more than 20 medals but then one day, quite out of the blue, I was struck and the collection exploded. I started with Soviet which rapidly expanded to cover the Russian Federation too and then due to the inhibitive prices I changed focus to Bulgaria, comparable to Soviet awards in many ways but not the same by any means. Then the collection took a rather Korean flavour due to curiosity.

If someone was to tell me how the collection would unfold when I started I would never have believed it nor how quickly it has expanded.

Having a standardised system for storage is really a "must" when you have any number of awards in the collection. There are many different ways of doing so with many different products out there. I've by no means tried them all but the system I have in place works for me as it is, it may not be true for all though and I would be interested to hear all the varied ways collectors safely store their awards and documents. There may be a better way that hasn't presented itself yet. Keeping the awards preserved and out of the "wrong" hands is also a necessity. Stolen, lost, damaged and eaten awards that previously weren't isn't fun.

There is also the question of transportation. Having something with handles usually helps.

[Pobeda45]

I buy these as the seller claims they will not tarnish or discolor medals:
Worldwide Militaria, LLC: Medal Sleeves

However, I question the seller's statement that the envelopes will not cause tarnish simply because they are non-acidic...PVC is the real problem with plastic and this seems to be the kind of soft plastic that does contain PVC. :confused

Groups on a bar are actually easier for me to store: I put a non-PVC "SAFLIP" plastic sleeve on each medal and put the entire thing into an acid-free paper envelope.

George

[CtahhR]

I've always found bars difficult to store.

Then you have the added problem of them wanting to rub up against each other.

I wonder if there any bar specific storage solutions out there.

[Sergei]

As my collection is growing, I can no longer fit it in a business cards holder. So I bought plastic pouches from a numismatist supplier. I couldn't get specific info about the material, but these pouches are made in Germany and are intended for collecting.

Sergei, where did you get your bad pouches? Were they collecting pouches?

Mine were also 'intented' for medal collectors, only bought off ebay via UK sellers. I have two types, one with more rounded corners the other one more rectangular in shape, does not seem to make any difference.
Sergei