Things You'll Need:
- Antique books
- A cool, dry place
- Bookshelves
- A blow dryer
- Acid-free tape
- Acid-free sleeves
- Tender, loving care
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Step 1
Find a cool and dry place to store your antique books. If you store your books in a cellar, be sure to keep them away from the damaging effects of water. Mildew is the number one destroyer of books!
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Step 2
Stand the books upright. You should always try to stand books upright. Heavier books should be stored laying flat because standing them upright can put too much weight on the spine.
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Step 3
Remove all paper clips, memorabilia, bookmarks, and other items from the interior of the book. These items can cause damage to the pages of your book. If you must keep these items, then store them separately.
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Step 4
Use a blow dryer on very low heat to remove labels and adhesives from the books cover. Never use harmful household cleaners on your book covers. Another option is to use petroleum jelly to gently remove adhesives.
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Step 5
Store the books away from the sun. Once exposed to the sun, a book quickly fades. This harms the book and decreases its value. The sun is the second biggest destroyer of antique books.
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Step 6
Use only acid free products when repairing or protecting your antique books. These days it is fairly easy to find acid free products on the Internet. When in doubt, don't use it!
