Just found some old family photos taken in the late 1800's. I cannot believe the quality and condition. They are all studio shots. I guess this shows that great quality photos can be taken with uncoated lens, who knows what kind of lighting. I know that color sometimes degrades after a few years, but these are over 100 years old and of course black and white sepia toned. Russ

I know what you mean. Last year I came across a trunk that had been stored under horrible conditions---in a basement of an old house for twenty years, then 40 years in the rafters of a garage with a leaky roof, where the temps reach well over 140 deg. here in the sunny West. The photos, which date from the 1890's to the 1930's look like new. They were mounted on mats or in cardstock "cabinets" I wonder how they did that? I didn't think the term "archival" had been coined back then.
-----regards