Tips On Book Collecting - Caring for Your BooksHere are some good tips on book collecting pertaining to book care. If you pay $25 or more for a nice fine/fine copy of a book ... you want it to stay that way. Jim and I have used these tips on book collecting for years to keep our books in fine condtion.
Dust jackets are estimated to represent 75% of the total value of a book. I use a Gaylord 1.5 mil No. 9 or 10 protector for most of my books. The number refers to the height of the book in inches. Another good brand is Brodart. I would avoid the use of tape when installing the protector.
I have three of them and could use another couple. Jim has eight or 10! They will set you back $130-150. Each bookcase will hold about 80 books.
It's best to keep books in a cool environment inside the house. Not in an attic or garage. Water and high humidity will ruin books.
Start on one side and work the edges up all around and slowly pull on it. Try not to scratch the dust jacket as it will affect the price. If it doesn't come off fairly easily letit set for a while and the glue may dry a bit and make it easier to work on. Once you get the sticker off some globs of glue may still be attached. Carefully roll them around to remove them... you may need a kleenex to get all of it. Then put on a dust jacket protector. Also, some book sellers mark the price on the first white page of the book. Take a pencil eraser and very carefully and slowly erase the price ... so you don't damage or scratch the page.
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