# So...should I open it? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 28, 2003, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-should-i-open-it/171577 "2003-04-28T02:17:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![BuckleberryFerry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/5f9b8f/32.png) [@BuckleberryFerry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BuckleberryFerry)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2003, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-should-i-open-it/171577/1 "2003-04-28T02:17:32Z")
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? ---
**Author:** ![Silentgoldfish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@Silentgoldfish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silentgoldfish)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2003, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-should-i-open-it/171577/2 "2003-04-28T02:31:06Z")
It’s a copy? Open it. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2003, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-should-i-open-it/171577/3 "2003-04-28T02:34:59Z")
Unless they are going for more than $100 on ebay or something, open it up. Haj ---
**Author:** ![Casey1505](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dc4da7/32.png) [@Casey1505](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Casey1505)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2003, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-should-i-open-it/171577/4 "2003-04-28T02:57:58Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![BuckleberryFerry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/5f9b8f/32.png) [@BuckleberryFerry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BuckleberryFerry)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2003, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-should-i-open-it/171577/5 "2003-04-28T02:59:37Z")
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… ---
**Author:** ![jamesinwonderland](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ecb155/32.png) [@jamesinwonderland](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jamesinwonderland)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2003, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-should-i-open-it/171577/6 "2003-04-28T04:02:03Z")
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 ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2003, 6:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-should-i-open-it/171577/7 "2003-04-28T06:33:18Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Gravity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gravity/32/14322_2.png) [@Gravity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gravity)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2003, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-should-i-open-it/171577/8 "2003-04-28T16:36:58Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![T.Slothrop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3e96dc/32.png) [@T.Slothrop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/T.Slothrop)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2003, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-should-i-open-it/171577/9 "2003-04-28T21:30:31Z")
I was worried when I saw the title that this might be a reincarnation of the evil cooler of death thread. ---
**Author:** ![Winsling](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Winsling](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Winsling)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2003, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-should-i-open-it/171577/10 "2003-04-29T01:03:13Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by T. Slothrop \* > \*\*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 ---
**Author:** ![Davebear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bcef8e/32.png) [@Davebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Davebear)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2003, 11:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-should-i-open-it/171577/11 "2003-04-29T11:43:40Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by T. Slothrop \* > \*\*I was worried when I saw the title that this might be a reincarnation of the evil cooler of death thread. \*\* 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? 😉