Protecting Dustwrappers

[oggbashan]

I have been using Florist's Wrap (a roll of transparent sheet of inert plastic), to protect the dustwrappers in my personal Library.

I bought a twenty-five-metre roll and have protected thirty books before I ran out. I have more rolls on order.

What do you use, if you protect dustwrappers?

 

[MsNatalie99]

I have been using Florist's Wrap (a roll of transparent sheet of inert plastic), to protect the dustwrappers in my personal Library.

I bought a twenty-five-metre roll and have protected thirty books before I ran out. I have more rolls on order.

What do you use, if you protect dustwrappers?

Plastic cling wrap. I get it at the dollar store for $1.31... my only concern with my dust wrappers for me is coffee or orange juice, so I just need the little bit of extra.

 

[MColton84]

I have been using Florist's Wrap (a roll of transparent sheet of inert plastic), to protect the dustwrappers in my personal Library.

I bought a twenty-five-metre roll and have protected thirty books before I ran out. I have more rolls on order.

What do you use, if you protect dustwrappers?

I don't use an additional layer, but I do go through once a week dusting them with dryer sheets. I am fairly careful with the upkeep of my library. By library, I mean two bookcases. It shows, when I compare my five and ten year old books to the books in the family room. Most of which are only two to three years old. Are those "florist wrapped" because they are first editions, valuable, etc? Mine are mostly research with one or two collectors editions.

 

[oggbashan]

I don't use an additional layer, but I do go through once a week dusting them with dryer sheets. I am fairly careful with the upkeep of my library. By library, I mean two bookcases. It shows, when I compare my five and ten year old books to the books in the family room. Most of which are only two to three years old. Are those "florist wrapped" because they are first editions, valuable, etc? Mine are mostly research with one or two collectors editions.

First editions etc?

No, not really. Some are first editions but not valuable ones. They are firsts because they were never reprinted. My library is for use, not as a collection. To preserve the value of a first edition one should preserve and conserve it and NEVER read it.

The few valuable firsts I have are duplicated by later editions so that the firsts can remain untouched.

I have one book, not valuable, but priceless to me. My grandfather won it as a prize in a contest on Shakespeare when he was ten years old. Stupidly - the first prize was a book with all Shakespeare's plays in it. Of course, to win the prize you had to be very familiar with Shakespeare, so every contestant already had the complete works. So my grandfather's prize book has NEVER had its pages cut and is still unread after 150 years.

I cover my dustwrappers just to keep them because they are colourful artist's work.

 

[MColton84]

First editions etc?

To preserve the value of a first edition one should preserve and conserve it and NEVER read it. The few valuable firsts I have are duplicated by later editions so that the firsts can remain untouched.I cover my dustwrappers just to keep them because they are colourful artist's work.

Ok, that is why I was asking. The two I have don't value over two hundred dollars combined, one being a 106 year old medical textbook. But I had been explicitly told not to handle them, unless absolutely necessary.

I don't believe I have a dustwrapper that's pretty enough to warrant the extra protection. Sorry that I misunderstood your post.

 

[oggbashan]

I have about 300 dustwrappered books from the 1910s to the 1960s.

The artist's work tends to be typical of the time and sometimes I have multiple editions just because of the dustwrappers i.e. Rider Haggard's She - the dustwrappers show the 'ideal' woman of that time, with Ursula Andress as the latest.

 

[MColton84]

I have about 300 dustwrappered books from the 1910s to the 1960s.

The artist's work tends to be typical of the time and sometimes I have multiple editions just because of the dustwrappers i.e. Rider Haggard's She - the dustwrappers show the 'ideal' woman of that time, with Ursula Andress as the latest.

Ok that certainly makes sense. Aside from 8 or nine of my books, most were printed after 1970, and are primarily non-fiction works for my personal growth and development. The older ones are religious texts, with very little adornment on the covers.

 

[oggbashan]

I don't tend to worry about my non-fiction books. Most are for reference and are becoming dated and will probably be outed soon.

As for religious texts? My earliest is dated 1545...

 

[MColton84]

I have about 300 dustwrappered books from the 1910s to the 1960s.

The artist's work tends to be typical of the time and sometimes I have multiple editions just because of the dustwrappers i.e. Rider Haggard's She - the dustwrappers show the 'ideal' woman of that time, with Ursula Andress as the latest.

I don't tend to worry about my non-fiction books. Most are for reference and are becoming dated and will probably be outed soon.

As for religious texts? My earliest is dated 1545...

Oh sweet, I have a 1711, but it has not been authenticated yet and doesn't count. What language is the 1545?

 

[oggbashan]

Oh sweet, I have a 1711, but it has not been authenticated yet and doesn't count. What language is the 1545?

Latin.

Many years ago, now long sold, I used to have an even earlier book. It was a commentary in Latin on the letter of St Paul to the Philippians.

It took four quarto pages of small print (with footnotes in Greek) to explain verse one:

Philippians 1 1 Paul and Timothy, the servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons:

 

[MColton84]

Latin.

Many years ago, now long sold, I used to have an even earlier book. It was a commentary in Latin on the letter of St Paul to the Philippians.

It took four quarto pages of small print (with footnotes in Greek) to explain verse one:

Philippians 1 1 Paul and Timothy, the servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons:

Mine is in Greek and Hebrew, neither of which I speak. My understanding is that it was commissioned as something of a display item. It is one of three from our family's private collection. The amount of footnotes and, explorations of language in my older books put my dakes to shame. Is it illustrated?

 

[oggbashan]

Mine is in Greek and Hebrew, neither of which I speak. My understanding is that it was commissioned as something of a display item. It is one of three from our family's private collection. The amount of footnotes and, explorations of language in my older books put my dakes to shame. Is it illustrated?

No. except for slightly decorated capital letters but it was in fantastic condition in its original vellum binding.

 

[KeithD]

The purpose of the dust jacket is to protect, so I leave it like that, although I also buy very few hardbacks anymore. Mostly paperbacks that don't have dust jackets.

 

[oggbashan]

The purpose of the dust jacket is to protect, so I leave it like that, although I also buy very few hardbacks anymore. Mostly paperbacks that don't have dust jackets.

Originally, yes. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, dustwrappers were to protect and were usually plain brown paper which the retailer would discard before putting the book on display.

But gradually they became artworks in their own right, and colourful dustwrappers need protection.

For a late 20th century book, the value of a first edition without dustwrapper is about a third of the price of one with a complete undamaged dustwrapper - if it is saleable at all.

Edited for PS: For some books, the value of the dustwrapper is more than the book. I have one 1960s first edition that was issued with TWO dustwrappers - one featured nearly naked young ladies and the outer one was plain geometric. The second and subsequent editions just had the geometric dustwrapper. There is a market in reproduction dustwrappers - easy to produce with a modern scanner and an A3 colour laser printer. Some UK-produced books are collected for the name of the artist on the dustwrapper.

There can be nonsenses: A series of books were produced for the various regions of the UK for the 1951 Festival of Britain. They are collected IF they have the dustwrappers but if not? They are valueless even though the boards are exactly the same as the dustwrapper - odd.

 

[Tio_Narratore]

My wife catalogs for her college library, and also processes the books for shelving. She always covers the dust jackets with archival quality transparent plastic sheeting made specifically for that purpose. Florist wrap will decompose and crumble onto your shelves within a few years. If you'd like more information on the library grade wraps that are available, I'll ask her for you.

 

[oggbashan]

Thanks, but no.

Most UK libraries use plastic that is too thick and damages the spine (and sticks it in place with cheap sellotape) - yuck.

I know florist's wrap degrades over time but I will replace it before that becomes an issue. But it is chemically inert. (or maybe UK florist's wrap is different) - I don't know. Many UK booksellers use and recommend florist's wrap.

EDited for PS: I have just checked the books I wrapped with florist's wrap some time ago. Even after 40 years, they show no signs of degradation. The UK stuff must be different. It is sold as 'inert'. But ex-library books with library wrapping has damaged the dustwrappers.

 

[Tio_Narratore]

Thanks, but no.

Most UK libraries use plastic that is too thick and damages the spine (and sticks it in place with cheap sellotape) - yuck.

I know florist's wrap degrades over time but I will replace it before that becomes an issue. But it is chemically inert. (or maybe UK florist's wrap is different) - I don't know. Many UK booksellers use and recommend florist's wrap.

EDited for PS: I have just checked the books I wrapped with florist's wrap some time ago. Even after 40 years, they show no signs of degradation. The UK stuff must be different. It is sold as 'inert'. But ex-library books with library wrapping has damaged the dustwrappers.

Ok, Og. Forty-plus years here and no damage to the dust jackets, nor is the plastic taped to the jacket. Florist wrap? Ours tends to deteriorate at the same rate as the cut flowers.