I recently bought a copy of a newspaper which carried a story about the sinking of the Titanic. It cost me $5.50 USD and came wrapped in plastic which I mistakenly thought was resealable. It’s not. My question is, would it be foolish to open this so that I might read the paper? It’s most definitely NOT an original copy; it’s a reproduction. However, it did come wrapped in plastic and with a small piece of paper with a little blurb about the copy and the newspaper itself. I’m not sure this could increase in value anytime soon–or later, really, but I’m a little wary about opening it. Any thoughts?
It’s a copy? Open it.
Unless they are going for more than $100 on ebay or something, open it up.
Haj
Open it, if you’re curious. I’d seen several similar items offered in bookstores. It’s a relatively common novelty item, and can be easily replaced if you decide you want to put an unopened one away for curiosity’s sake.
Another reason I’m wary is that it’s a reproduction of “New York American,” and the blurb says that this newspaper no longer exists.
The most I’ve seen this go for is about $7 USD online…
I’d say open it…and if you’re willing to spend another 5.50 then buy a second one, and keep that one sealed.
**Jamie
Well, it’s a little hard to tell from your Location entry where in the world you are. If you’re in the United States, you might try to get to a library that has holdings of the New York American, whether in hard copy or on microfilm. That way, you could look at the relevant edition without breaking the seal on your packet.
According to a Worldcat database search (available only to subscribers, so i can’t provide a link) there are 47 libraries worldwide that hold copies of this paper, and the only one outside the US is the National Library of Ireland. If you’re in the US, and you want to tell me what town/city you’re in, i could find out the nearest library that holds this paper.
I know that the poly bags that “collector’s edition” comics come in are actually not good for storage. The plastic itself might degrade the item over time.
I was worried when I saw the title that this might be a reincarnation of the evil cooler of death thread.
You were worried; I was hoping.
Hal
Now, there’s a philosophical question worthy of it’s own thread. Can the Evil Cooler of Death be reincarnated? For that matter, can it die, at all? 