Literature is to be enjoyed. Show it to a friend by having them looking over your shoulder. Even best friends rarely know how to handle a brochure and will not appreciate the rarity as much as you do. Keep food and drink far away from literature. Don't leave it within the reach of kids or pets. Enjoy it and then put it back in storage immediately. If possible, it is a good idea to have two copies -- one to handle and one to preserve.

Glossy photographs - Sunlight quickly fades old photos, plus they will curl forever.

Paint chip charts - Insert typing or onionskin paper to prevent chips from sticking together.

Book cases should never face sunlight or the spines may fade. Book cases with doors are important in preserving the books. Glass paned doors are great for preventing dust and bugs, but light can still damage the books.

Literature that has been damaged can sometimes be restored, but would you perform surgery on yourself? If not, don't try literature restoration. The odds are that you will damage it more. In my 40 years of collecting I have developed many techniques using various tools, chemicals and glues that can significantly improve the condition of damaged literature. The techniques and equipment are not secrets, but the skills take time to develop and, initially, you will probably regret your efforts, especially if it is an expensive item.

Never mark on literature with ink, or even pencil. Some collectors like to mark the date on which they received literature or the date of the make. However, any marks de-value literature. Even 3-M stick-on notes can cause damage. A clean piece of paper, with penciled notes, is not likely to hurt anything if you must make notes -- but don't write on the paper placed over the brochure because it will probably leave an impression on the brochure.

Shipping should always be done using boxes, not envelopes -- even padded envelopes. Even a postcard should be placed in a small box. Literature should first be sealed in a plastic bag to protect it from moisture if the box gets wet. Sales literature needs to have the plastic bag taped to a piece of cardboard larger than the literature to prevent bent corners. The literature should then be placed in the box with padding on all six sides. The literature should never touch the sides of the box. Heavy boxes tend to be dropped and corners dented in, so keep individual box weight under thirty pounds.

Always have clean hands. Swap meet customers never do. They pick up literature after handling rusty, dirty or greasy engine parts, or eating a hamburger. Even at home, wash up before looking through literature, and never eat or drink anything while handling it.

Be careful when you open a new item. Folders often open in several ways. Take your time so as to not rip something meant to open in an unexpected direction. Old or thin paper tears easily and, once a rip stars, it will get worse each time it is opened.

Store literature in tight wooden or metal cabinets or in plastic envelopes that are acid-free and open at the top to breathe. The plastic envelopes can be placed in notebooks.

Never store literature in attics or basements because of temperature and humidity changes. Temperature and humidity should remain constant. Sealed plastic bags trap humidity and cause mold. Never store literature near water pipes.

Do not place literature openly near sunlight, because light can cause fading or turn it brown.