Great stuff... and with regard to this topic, beauty is definitely in the eye of the beholder. Some of those older balls look pretty cool with the shellac, as referenced above.
My personal fear is that the shellac could flake off and take the prized signatures with it. Just a little pessimism with some OCD sprinkled in for good measure. That's why I've personally avoided them. If you look at prices realized in the major auctions, you'll see the general collecting population feels the same. Of course a lot depends on the severity of the shellacking.
Not sure why some shellacs and varnishes flaked and changed color, and others didn't....
Perhaps it was the particular brand of shellac
Perhaps it was the way in which the varnish was applied (i.e. sprayed vs. brushed on)
Perhaps it was the storage method and/or exposure to the elements (light/heat/cold/humidity) over the years
Maybe someone here with a science degree can chime in and enlighten us a bit more
