How to Care for Rare Books
Collecting rare books can be a fun and rewarding hobby. In order to ensure that your books are kept in the best condition possible and maintain their value, there are some steps you must take to protect them from the elements and mishandling. Here's how to keep your treasures safe from damage.
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Instructions
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Limit light exposure. Daylight and florescent light are the most harmful but all light does some damage. Keep books in a room with the lights turned off when not in use. Use curtains to block out daylight.
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Keep temperatures moderate. Dry temperatures will cause the spines to become brittle and the paste to dry out. Damp conditions will cause mildew and mold. Keep bookcases away from heaters, air vents and windows. Use a humidifier or dehumidifier to keep humidity at 50 percent.
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Shelve rare books properly. Books should be on a solid shelf, upright and supported by either bookends or neighboring books. Do not place too tightly together. Oversize books should be laid flat and stack no more than three high.
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Give them space. Books should be pushed back about an inch from the edge of the bookshelf and kept away from the back of the bookcase. This allows air to circulate and gives you room to check for insect activity.
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Handle with care. When taking your book from the shelf, gently pull apart the books on either side and grasp your book in the middle of the spine. Do not pull from the top of the book.
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Keep it clean. Wash your hands before handling books. Oily fingerprints can cause dirt buildup over time.
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Clean your rare books. Use a vacuum cleaner with low suction to dust books and the book shelf. You can use a soft cloth to wipe spines and dust from the spine towards the edge of the book.
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Tips & Warnings
For extremely rare books, protective coverings can be purchased from specialty stores.
Never lay books face down and flat when open.
