The Paul Messier Historic Photographic Papers Collection

Possibly the largest collection of its kind in the world, this collection of over 4,000 samples was started in the late 1990s to provide, for scholars and connoisseurs, an objective baseline for dating and authenticating photographic prints. Papers typically enter the collection in manufacturer sample books or original manufacturer packages. Samples from 65 manufacturers comprising over 360 brands have mostly been fully catalogued by manufacturer, brand, surface texture and reflectance.

The collection has provided samples for a recent backprinting survey and has also been used for a number of studies that have significantly expanded the understanding of photographic papers. These projects include a survey for optical brightening agents, measurements of inorganic components in the baryta layer (in collaboration with the Getty Conservation Institute), paper fiber identification (in collaboration with the Museum of Modern Art and Integrated Paper Services), stability of optically brightened paper (in collaboration with the Art Conservation Research Center, Carnegie Mellon University). Along with these research applications, the collection serves the intrinsically valuable function of preserving the materials used by 20th century photographers.

Contributions to the collection are gratefully accepted. In some cases, the purchase of unique papers and manufacturer sample books can be arranged. Such inquiries are welcome. Please contact: admin@paulmessier.com.