Paper is both amazingly strong and incredibly fragile.
The ability of paper to survive is dependent upon the materials and methods of its fabrication and the conditions to which it is subjected. Regardless of its origins, all paper benefits from good conditions and all paper suffers when conditions are poor. Paper is extremely vulnerable to damage from environmental factors such as air-borne pollutants, excessive temperature, humidity and light. Water damage, with attendant mold growth, can be deadly. Inappropriate handling can result in dirty fingerprints and tears.