Following on my first article on book collecting here is some practical advice.
The first step in caring for your books is to keep them out of the sun. Sun is an enemy of books; it can warp and fade the boards. Have you ever noticed that the spines of books are more faded than the covers? Keep them away from direct sunlight. I cringe each time I see books on display in the open sun at an auction or a garage sale, my instinct is to get them indoors.
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Another enemy is dust. Dust gets in everywhere. Do you know why books used to have gilt edges? It forms a dust proof seal against dust. Today only prestigious titles come with gilt edging, I wonder how long our modern books will last. Dust your books regularly and if you have the finances keep your better books behind glass.
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Moisture is also bad for books; damp conditions will blister the spine and cause discolouration and stains. A wet book will warp and usually will be impossible to fix. I have bought books at an auction and had my pulse race when I spotted a rare book in the collection only to have my hopes dashed when I found out the book was water damaged. I have heard of books being quick frozen and the ice later shaken off but mostly we don’t have facilities to do that and it does not always work.
Good housekeeping will offer protection against insects. Roaches, Silverfish and certain beetles feed on the protein and starch found in paper. Check your books when dusting. If you find little heaps of fine powder on the shelf, this is a sure sign that you have a problem. The fine powder is called “frass” (Insect excrement) if you dust and inspect your books regularly you can avoid the problem.
h3>American Cockroach
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Keep your books upright on the shelf, avoid having the books lean over, especially heavy books. Once a book has warped under its own weight it is generally impossible to straighten it out. If your book is too large lay it down horizontally. Never pack your books too tightly on the shelf, I have made this mistake and have torn the spine by tugging too hard to get the book out.
I hope this information will prove useful. One last thing, a quote from the House of Rothschild. “Quality will be remembered long after price is forgotten.” Buy the best you can afford and care for your collection.
