Front page ad for S.H. Barrett & Company's traveling railroad show in the October 12, 1881 issue of Arkansas Sentinel
Years ago, my dad found some issues of the Arkansas Sentinel while helping renovate a historical home in Fort Smith. As far as I've seen, they're all Arkansas Sentinel from the year 1881.
I've been reluctant to handle them until I learn to do so properly. So I haven't even been through them. They've been under a bed, stacked flat in a black trash bag, away from light.
This particular cover was found with the rest of the newspapers, but it was adhered to a poster board. Intended, I presume, to provide stability and/or for display. I assume it was displayed somewhere because it seems more faded than the other papers.
I plan on doing decent research into how I should handle them before I do. The paper is very fragile.
Any tips? More info/interesting things I should know about this particular publication?