Best Way to Ship an Old, Large Magazine? Or Newspsper?

[daveroo]

I'm talking about something like a Life magazine from the 1940's.

They are something like 11" x 14".

And of course the paper is old.

And newspapers are worse since the paper used was acidic and has become fragile.

[partial*eclipse]

Put it in a plastic bag for protection against damp, then sandwich between two pieces of cardboard, preferably corrugated with the "grain" going crosswise to each other for extra rigidity.

[zzydny]

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@partial*eclipse wrote:

Put it in a plastic bag for protection against damp, then sandwich between two pieces of cardboard, preferably corrugated with the "grain" going crosswise to each other for extra rigidity.

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I sell old magazines, sheet music, and sometimes newspapers, and I pack in a similar way but in a different order because I worry about putting plastic next to old print.

I wrap the item in tissue paper.  Then I sandwich between cardboard and then I wrap in heavy paper around this bundle to make sure that things don't shift.  I put the wrapped item in a polymailer and seal it.  Then I put that inside a second mailer.  If there is any excess space around the edges of the mailer (if it is larger than is absolutely necessary), I fold those edges down and tape them so that the item is packed solidly with no room to move.

[southern*sweet*tea]

My method is similar to those above.

Wrap the magazine in acid free tissue paper. Sandwich  between two HEAVY cardboard backers at least a half inch larger all around than the magazine. Overwrap that in plastic wrap, first wrap side to side, then top to bottom. This is for moisture protection AND to keep the magazine stable within the backers. Slide the whole thing into a poly mailer. Up to 15.9 oz can go First Class, over that goes Priority. 

[daveroo]

Okay, as I understand it you ship flat but rigidly wrapped.

Not rolled in a tube (as I suspected).

How the USPS handles a large flat item worries me.

It'll mark the heck out of it with DO NOT BEND.

And then hope.

[partial*eclipse]

USPS officially does not recognize the 'Do not bend" instruction.  Hence the recommendation for plenty of cardboard and cross-grain for corrugated for extra rigidity.  The more layers of cardboard you use, the more rigidity and the less worrying.  Here's the memo from when all references to  "Do not bend" were officially removed from USPS manual.

"There has been a longstanding mailing standard that mailers marking their mailpieces with “Do Not Bend” must add a stiffener within the mailpiece. That requirement was included to provide a sensory reminder in case our employ­ees did not see the marking. However, we do not guarantee that these pieces will not be bent during processing or bent or folded when delivered. Therefore, we are removing references to this marking."

http://about.usps.com/postal-bulletin/2007/html/pb22213/updt.3.2.html

[muttlymob]

If you want it not to get bent you need to package it in a way that can't be bent.  Do Not Bend markings may be fine (or not) for the humans who handle the package but mean nothing to the machinery or other packages in the mailstream with yours.

If the magazine or newspapers are over 1 pound and they will fit I use a Priority shirt-style box but leave it flat.  Use one or two pieces of cardboard to stabilize the mag, insert in the still-flat box.

[robot-hands]

Tissue paper is far worse for old collectible newsprint than plastic.

[duchess-at-speakeasy]

Much of the advice given here is pure overkill.

Protection from moisture and bending is important.  Excessive wrapping is not necessary and, in fact, best avoided. 

Large-format magazines such as Life, Look, LHJ, Collier's and many others should fit easily into a No. 7 bubble envelope.  Insert the magazine in a 12x18 open-end poly sleeve and tack the resulting "flap" with a bit of masking tape, a decorative sticker or a return address label.  Just enough to hold it in place. Poly sleeves specifically are intended to protect paper goods, so no worries there. Line the bubble envelope with 2 sheets of corrugated cardboard and slide the sleeved magazine between them.  Do not add tape.  Buffer the bottom and top of the envelope with crumpled paper to prevent shifting and protect edges -- and allow a "neutral zone" for the recipient's errant scissors!

A single sheet of corrugated cardboard provides ample rigidity for thick magazines; it should face the envelope's label side, with the magazine's cover facing inward.  

Some magazines fit easily into an 11x15 poly sleeve and perhaps a No. 6 bubble envelope.  Cardboard photo mailers -- known as stay-flats -- also are a good choice and do not require additional cardboard inserts.

Most older consumer magazines weigh between 2 and 4 lbs., so First Class Package Service is not available.  Other than a bubble envelope or stay-flat, a shallow box is useful for mailing 1 or more magazines.  Via Priority Mail, the various "shirt" style boxes are appropriate -- just form a "nest" with packing chips or bubble wrap for the sleeved magazines.  No extra cardboard is needed, although stabilizing a stack with a couple of inserts is desirable.

Newspapers require similar packaging but it's fine to make use of the natural fold to keep the dimensions manageable.  Just let the folded paper breathe -- don't squish it tightly -- and let the air pocket created by the poly sleeve do its job.

Bottom line:  Tape is naturally attracted to paper -- do not use it within the package!

~~C~~

[partial*eclipse]

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@duchess-at-speakeasy wrote:

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 ... Most older consumer magazines weigh between 2 and 4 lbs., so First Class Package Service is not available.  Other than a bubble envelope or stay-flat, a shallow box is useful for mailing 1 or more magazines.  Via Priority Mail, the various "shirt" style boxes are appropriate ...

Regional A2 box would also work well, and would ship at the same price as a Commercial Base 2-pound package.  Interior dimensions are 10-15/16" x 2-3/8 x 12-13/16". Not quite big enough for Life but big enough to keep on hand.

https://store.usps.com/store/product/shipping-supplies/priority-mail-regional-rate-box---a2-P_RRB_A2

[southern*sweet*tea]

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@partial*eclipse wrote:

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@duchess-at-speakeasy wrote:

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 ... Most older consumer magazines weigh between 2 and 4 lbs., so First Class Package Service is not available.  Other than a bubble envelope or stay-flat, a shallow box is useful for mailing 1 or more magazines.  Via Priority Mail, the various "shirt" style boxes are appropriate ...

Regional A2 box would also work well, and would ship at the same price as a Commercial Base 2-pound package.  Interior dimensions are 10-15/16" x 2-3/8 x 12-13/16". Not quite big enough for Life but big enough to keep on hand.

https://store.usps.com/store/product/shipping-supplies/priority-mail-regional-rate-box---a2-P_RRB_A2

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Yes! RRAs are my best friend! You can ship up to 15 pounds at the 2 pound rate.