How to Care for Your Rare Book Collection

If you're investing in rare and valuable books, you must take extra precautions to care for them. The slightest stain on your rare book can significantly reduce its resale value. Other issues with a valuable book's condition, such as brittleness and damage to the dust jacket, can slash its value to a small fraction of what it would be worth in like new condition. Fortunately, the methods for caring for your book collection are simple and inexpensive to implement.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Store your rare and valuable books indoors in a dry, climate controlled area. Avoid storing your book collection in a garage or workshed, as this could cause them to become damp from the outside humid air. This hidden moisture can cause mold and mildew to breed in your rare and valuable books. It may also make them more susceptible to insect damage.

2. Address any unpleasant odors that your rare and valuable books are exhibiting. Place them in baking soda or kitty litter for at least 24 hours. These products will absorb any moisture and bad odors that have infiltrated your books. Make sure that all traces of baking soda are gone from the book before you attempt to resell it. Also, allow the book to air out after using kitty litter, as it usually has a very strong smell.

3. Hang damp books in the sun, using a wooden rack or a clothes line. Be sure to check the weather to make sure it isn't going to rain before you do this. Also, ensure that the rack or clothesline is clean and dry. Leaving books out in the sun in this way can help to remove any humidity that the books have absorbed over time. Don't leave them in the sun too long, or it may damage them.

4. Avoid storing your rare book collection in a building where people smoke. The books will absorb the odor from the tobacco, which will be almost impossible to remove. If you smoke, try to quit as soon as possible. You'll not only save money on cigarettes, you'll also preserve and protect the value of your rare and valuable books.

5. Store your rare books upright on a book shelf with bookends. Do not allow them to lean over on the side of the book shelf or against another book, as this can cause them to become shelf-cocked. A shelf-cocked book is one whose spine has become twisted so that it can't stand up straight on the shelf any longer.

6. Keep your rare book collection away from direct sunlight. Shelving a rare or valuable book too near a window can cause it to become faded or "sunned." When looking for a place to store your books, select a room that is darkened, or that can be shut off from light exposure by heavy blinds, shutters or curtains.

Tips & Warnings

• Encase the dust jackets of your rare and valuable books in book covers to keep them in good condition. If your dust jacket is worn or brittle, a book cover can help to prevent any further damage. These book covers are readily and cheaply available. Enclose the dust jacket in the book cover. If the book cover came with a paper underlay, place it on the underside of the jacket, while the plastic portion should go on top.
• Never completely enclose your rare books in plastic. Books may appear dry, but they all contain a small amount of moisture. Therefore if you feel that you need wrap your books, select acid-free paper instead of plastic as the wrapping material.

Resources

• Brodart book jacket covers

[benpauley]

on 3/4/2009 I have a set of encyclopedias from the late 1800's and this will help a lot. Thanks! 5 Stars!

[modough]

on 3/3/2009 Very detailed and helpful advice! Nothing is as damaging to rare book as moisture so I like how you approach solvingt his problem from different angles. I especially like the kitty litter trick for removing moisture and odors : )