Today we wouldn’t let a smoker’s unwashed fingers near archival collections, much less those fingers AND a lit cigarette. So it makes perfect sense that Hollinger Metal Edge (the “Quality Leader In Archival Products”) chose this picture of their founder William Hollinger:
I only use acid-free rolling papers.
Based solely on their visuals, one would have to question their position as “quality leader.” We would think another picture might be better, but perhaps it’s the only image they have of him. Perhaps those aren’t archivally sensitive materials on the desk. Perhaps he thought nicotine was a preservative.
Despite the contrasts, the company will probably stick with this picture. They can’t snap a new one because Hollinger is dead. Dead and buried in a lignin-free coffin.
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