Saving Stuff: How to Care for and Preserve Your Collectibles, Heirlooms, and Other Prized Possessions (Paperback)

by Don Williams (Author), Louisa Jaggar (Author)
Key Phrases: Preserving Your Furniture, Taking Care of Fine Art, Taking Care of Textiles (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
From a fragile antique quilt to a child's macaroni artwork, this book offers expert advice on saving those priceless objects from entropy for the "museum of you." Williams, senior conservator at the Smithsonian Institute, shares his extensive knowledge on the art of preservation, offering at-home techniques for battling damage from light, humidity, rodents and other pests, like careless friends and family members. Divided into easily navigable chapters, the book offers step-by-step guidelines, lists of supplies needed and numerous rules for preserving everything from "family treasures" to "really valuable stuff," with specifics on caring for objects including record players, political memorabilia, fine art, vintage clothing and more. Sidebars detail tips (e.g. how to turn the pages of a vintage book), bust myths (don't store silver in plastic wrap-it'll cause tarnish) and offer "Smithsonian Stories," quirky anecdotes about the Institution's collection. Peppered with personal stories by Jaggar, an amateur collector, about her past maintenance mess-ups, the book is written in clear, concise language that explains these professional techniques to any reader looking to safeguard his loot.
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Review
"Saving Stuff provides a wealth of invaluable advice to anyone who wishes to care for, preserve, and display personal collections and family treasures."

-- Betty C. Monkman, Curator (Retired), The White House

"Don Williams has distilled years of research and museum experience into practical advice for anyone concerned with preserving a collection -- from the beginning collector to the connoisseur."

-- Joseph Godla, Senior Conservator, Historic New England

"I am someone to whom stuff is serious business, so Saving Stuff is indispensable. Luckily, it covers saving books, because one thing I know I'll always want to save is Saving Stuff itself."

-- Sam Posey, the author of Playing with Trains

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 368 pages
• Publisher: Fireside; 1st ptg edition (May 31, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0743264169
• ISBN-13: 978-0743264167
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 7.3 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #298,704 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

25 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Caring for Your Treasures, July 28, 2005

By	Virginia Allain "(retired librarian)" (Poinciana, FL) - See all my reviews (TOP 100 REVIEWER)

The Smithsonian name (author is senior conservator there) ensures you're getting top quality advice. The instructions are detailed and straight forward, making this a great reference book. The boxed sections give Smithsonian stories of rescuing artifacts and also "Don's Tips" to supplement the text.
Browsing through this book, you'll find ways to take care of everything precious to you from your vintage comic books to Grandma's quilt to your tattered teddy bear.
The chapter titles tell you a lot about the character of this book.
*Your Treasures Want to Live in an Egyptian Tomb
*Deciding What Stuff to Save, Give Away, or Toss
*Preserving Your Photographs and Films
*Archiving Toys for Young and Old
*Saving the Stuff Only a Parent Could Love
*Saving Your Family Treasures
*Sorting and Preserving the Family Trash
*Preserving Your Furniture
*Preserving Your Sports and Political Memorabilia
*Preserving Entertainment Memorabilia and Media
*Preserving Magnetic Media (Audiotapes, etc.)
*Saving Your Books, Comic Books, Newspapers
*Preserving Your Coins and Stamps
*Taking Care of Fine Art
*Taking Care of Textiles
*Perserving Musical Instruments

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent advice in a very readable form, August 14, 2005

By	G. Wilfong - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Saving Stuff has excellent advice by the senior curator of the Smithsonian Institiute on how to care for collectables and heirlooms. It is written in a very readable, chatty way and can be used as reference without having to read the entire book but I'm glad I'm reading the whole thing, anyway. Often, he will tell you several ways of preserving an item, depending on how much effort or expense you wish to go to. I initially bought this for the genealogical collection for our local library but may buy myself a copy as well.

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Get a top conservator for all your attic and garage junk, August 4, 2005

By	Austin T. Bechtold "[e-mail]" (Downingtown, PA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Being a lover of auctions and yard sales, I have found some great furniture and old prints that needed some restorative attention. I often used traditional cleaning methods, thinking I was doing just fine. This book keeps you from making good-intentioned destructive "repairs" to your potential treasures. The author's experience at the Smithsonian and the other great enclave of American arts restoration, Winterthur, should convince readers that this guy knows his stuff! I like diagrams and how-to photos to reassure me that I am doing things right. The lack of these is my only criticism.