Shipping a Collection
Please don't ship anything until we've said hello — but when the time comes, here is how it's done safely.
First, a rule
Wait for our shipping instructions before sending anything. Every accepted submission receives specific directions — address, labeling, insurance approach, and who pays for what (for purchased and many contributed collections, we arrange or reimburse agreed shipping costs). Unannounced parcels put fragile material at risk and, frankly, worry us.
Packing that works
- Flat, in modest stacks. Magazines travel flat, in stacks of roughly 10–15, never on their spines.
- Bagged against moisture. Wrap each stack in a polyethylene bag or clean plastic, loosely closed — sealed airtight invites condensation.
- Stiffened. Place cardboard stiffeners above and below each stack.
- Snug, rigid boxes. Double-walled boxes, voids filled with paper, no room for stacks to shift. Several medium boxes beat one heavy one.
- Fragile copies flagged. Detached covers or brittle issues should be individually sleeved and noted — we will advise per copy.
Larger collections
Collections beyond comfortable parcel shipping — many boxes, bound runs, mixed archives — may qualify for palletized freight or, within our service area, local inspection and pickup. Say so in your submission and we will plan accordingly.
Arrival
We confirm arrival with photographs of the opened cartons, and condition notes join the record before anything else happens. If transit has caused damage, you hear it from us first, with pictures — not as a surprise in a later accounting.
Questions before shipping? Ask via contact or in your submission notes.