The permanence or stability of a document based on dry toner printing technology depends critically on three components that when combined form the image. These factors are the toner, the substrate paper and the fusing process that is used to produce the final document. Archival behavior is not guaranteed by any component alone and those preparing documents intended for long term permanent use have to be aware of all the potential pitfalls that arise in using such a system to make a document of record. The practice of dry toner based electro-photography has changed over the years. While previous experience and history has led to the awareness of the permanence issues with this technology, the technology is not standing still and newer printers incorporate new aspects that provide new challenges to understanding what approach is best for the conservation of these prints. This paper attempts to put the current understanding of image permanence of such prints in a historical perspective.