Antique Newspaper-Lined Products: My Thoughts on Pricing
If you've followed my work for a while, you may have noticed that I occasionally line boxes with genuine antique newspaper — pages from publications typically printed before 1900, meaning each sheet is at least 125 years old. I've always enjoyed working with these papers; sourcing them takes me back to antiquing with my parents and grandparents growing up here in Maine. It's something I'm planning to do a lot more of going forward, and as I expand that part of my work I've been giving some thought to how I want to handle pricing. I want it to be fair for you as the customer while keeping it feasible on my end — since it's quite time consuming work. I figured it was worth sharing my thoughts, and as always I welcome your feedback.
A quick clarification
This applies only to boxes lined with genuine antique newspaper. Boxes lined with decorative papers — such as the floral papers I use regularly — will continue to be priced straightforwardly.
About the paper itself
Antique newspaper was never designed to last. It was printed, read, and either tossed out or tucked away in a trunk or drawer somewhere — then largely forgotten for a century or more. The fact that any of it survives in usable condition is truly remarkable.
When I work with these papers I'm handling material that has had 125-plus years of exposure to humidity, light, dust, and time. Some sheets come to me in wonderful shape — bold typography, striking period advertisements, beautiful mastheads, largely intact. Others are more fragile, with small tears, areas of brittleness, or the occasional inconveniently placed hole. The fold lines are especially vulnerable, particularly when I'm applying the adhesive and the paper is at its most delicate. I do my best to patch or minimize any issues that come up during application, but it's simply not realistic to discard every piece that has a minor imperfection — nor would I want to, since honestly a few of those "imperfections" can add a bit of character.
Once the lining is applied and sealed it's stable and well protected. Any minor tears or holes that may be present won't get any worse, brittleness is no longer a concern, and the paper can now withstand regular handling and even a slightly damp cloth for cleaning.
With all that said — it's fair to assume that every antique newspaper-lined piece I make will have at least some minor imperfection in the lining. Sections with significant damage won't be used, but the overall condition of the paper will play a part in how each piece is priced — more on that below.
Pricing going forward
Up until now all of my products have carried a set price, which kept things simple and made pre-orders easy. The only exception was the occasional piece with a minor flaw — a lid fitting a little too tight or loose, a small cosmetic issue — which I'd list during a release marked as "discounted" with a brief note explaining why. Simple and straightforward.
Applying that same approach to antique newspaper-lined pieces has turned out to be harder than I expected. The variables are just too many to reduce to a single size-based price with occasional markdowns — and trying to do so doesn't really work for either of us. So I've decided to approach them the way antiques themselves are priced: based on condition, visual interest, and historical significance, not just size.
The boxes themselves are identical in construction and priced accordingly — any difference beyond that comes entirely from the lining. So two size #7 boxes might carry different prices, not because one is better made, but because the linings are different.
What this means practically
Going forward I typically won't be taking pre-orders for antique newspaper-lined pieces. Since each one is priced individually, you really should be able to see it before purchasing — and I want you to. My plan is to make them, photograph them well, and list them on the website so you can see exactly what you're getting before any decisions are made.
That said, it always helps to know what you're interested in — I love hearing what people would like to see come out of the workshop, so feel free to reach out anytime.
In Conclusion
Every antique newspaper-lined piece I make contains paper that is more than a century old, and no two linings are exactly alike. The only fair approach I can come up with is to look at each piece individually and price it on its own merits — condition, visual appeal, and historical interest. I'll be the first to admit that's subjective. What catches my eye might not be what catches yours. If you ever want to talk through a specific piece or just have questions, I'm always glad to hear from you.
Pictured below is a Maine Farmer newspaper, Augusta, Maine, August 23, 1873. A good example of the balancing act — that masthead is excellent, but the discoloration and slight fiber separation along the fold line (visible if you look closely) are the kinds of things that will affect the price, even though it's simply the character that comes with 150 years of honest age.
I'm open to other perspectives on this — if you have thoughts, a different approach, or just questions, I'd love to hear from you. Feel free to reach out through my [contact page] or email me at robert@lehays.com