While its best to take antique or overly fragile books to conservationists for cleaning and preservation, you can. I also tend to take the dust jacket off of novels more than nonfiction. The valuable rare book dust jacket rare books digest. What exactly is the value of dust jackets on kids books.
Some people would like to get rid of dust jackets those glossy outer covers of hardcover books. Some of the dust jackets are godawful, some are good. The great gatsby facsimile dust jacket for the 1st edition bookjacket only. See more ideas about book crafts, old books and book art. Dec 21, 2011 during the 1990s, when restoration of dust jackets reached a high art, it soon became a controversial subject for rare book dealers and collectors.
Kids books have such fun dust jackets that im trying to figure out a cute and easy way to display some of our favorites. Sep 06, 2018 and this way never damages the book with adhesives or leaving the edges exposed. I have been getting more and more annoyed with them and starting today im throwing all of them away. A document cleaning pad, which is a sieved cloth filled with eraser dust, will help remove a layering of dust from the pages, as well as smudges from matte dust jackets. Oct 29, 2012 store old books or any book you want to pay extra attention to out of direct sunlight. I still have books that i used this technique on over 5 years ago and although i was told the stains would dissipate, they have not. The other major difference between dust jackets and the covers of softcover books is that the cover is intrinsic to the book and cannot be easily separated from the bookblock. As new is to be used only when the book is in the same immaculate condition in which it was published.
The community of book collectors, as usual, had the final word. Our book jacket covers are constructed of polyester and polypropylene and are available in onepiece and twopiece styles. Once intended to be temporary and disposable protection for beautifully bound books, dust jackets have becomein some waysmore valuable than the books they protect. I have a book with a delicate book jacket, and my book jacket is not have dust on it and it doesnt have dust or debris on it. With frequent usage and toting about, your favorite books may become dirty, dusty, or even stained. A soft dust brush vacuum attachment, a soft cloth, dry cleaning pad, white plastic eraser and glass cleaner are the only materials needed for cleaning old books with hard, leather and dust jacket covers. I just have to say this out loud i really, really dont get the point of dust jackets on kids books. The back cover of a paperback or a dust jacket, or the back cover of a casewrap book needs to display its bookland ean barcode, which is covered in a separate article. Dust, mild stains, and pencil marks are fairly easy to remove. This includes clothbound books, dust jackets that werent coated glossy, and text block paper. It is important to both collectors and dealers that you accurately describe your book s condition using industry standards. I am primarily an artist, and facsimile dust jackets are treated as artistic works made to the highest standards.
Value of a dust jacket on a rare first edition rare. The earliestknown book dust wrapper dates from 1829 and was intended to protect a finelybound gift book entitled friendships offering. Book dust jackets are essential to ensuring a book s longevity. In the old days, before it seemed that the world was crashing down around us every minute, we used to have arguments on the internet about. A book with its dust jacket present will always bring a premium. Kandice mccallum, aka lady bluestocking, makes facsimile reproductions and custom dust jackets for vintage books. Get cozy and expand your home library with a large online selection of books at. Even if you use dust jackets, be aware of where you are storing your books, and avoid moist, hot areas, which can increase the. Bibliophiles know that a good dust jacket will help protect their precious books from the ravages of sun and shelf wear. Oddfellows fine books and collectables 9,280 views.
The dust jacket was therefore born as a simple protective wrapper and only later evolved into works of art and tools of marketing. This jacket is handproduced and labeled as a facsimile dust jacket. Books have become a way to decorate for some time now. Dust jackets protect the book covers, helping to keep the moisture away from the book. My goal is to scan and archive images of as many vintage dust jackets as i can. In the decades that followed, dust jackets became marketing tools that featured beautiful illustrations as well as promotional text about the book and its author. A modern first editions value is very much dependant on its dust jacket dust wrapper or dust cover. A missing dust jacket, or a dust jacket that is in poor condition, can cut a collectible books value more than 50%, and make it harder to find a buyer. How to remove dust or dust mites from old books quora. Dustjacket is an educationbased used bookstore and community space located in the heart of downtown halifax.
If its a thick book, i usually take the dust jacket off until im finished reading, then put it back on for storage. I have repaired jackets that were in three or four pieces. Looking for book jacket cover for books without dust jackets. If the book was published in 1970 or later, then you could search by the isbn number alone. How dust jackets play a key role in value of collectible books. I used this to repair the onionskin in a 142 year old book as well as to return a large piece torn from the edge of a page and it works great. But doing so would be terrible for casual book readers. Once you get rid of the dust cover life gets better and you realize that the way to read a book is without the dust cover.
Dustjacket books and treasures, halifax, nova scotia. If its a relatively thin book, ill use the dust cover flaps as a bookmark. We proudly offer six different styles of book jacket covers, including center slit book jacket covers, multifit book jacket covers, open edge book jacket covers, polyjac book jacket covers, processor book jacket covers and profit book jacket covers. No matter what youre looking for or where you are in the world, our global marketplace of sellers can help you find unique and affordable options. Apr 03, 2019 to clean an old book, remove stubborn dust by brushing it off with a dry paint brush or a soft toothbrush. The illustrated man facsimile dust jacket for the first edition and early printings no book, jac. These covers protect your dust jacket which ultimately protects your book.
But, if this makes me sound like a bad seinfeld clone, so be it. The dust jacket is both the most decorative part of a book, and the most delicate. After accumulating stacks of old books especially during grade school years, a lot of us dont know what to do with them. At the end of 1800s publishers began making pictorial dust jackets, but the wrappers were still disposed of more often than not. Book collecting, book history, dust jackets as most collectors are aware, a dust jacket in fine condition can greatly enhance the value of a book. Feb 6, 20 explore lancastercrs board book covers, dust jackets, etc. A first edition published in 1957 by heinemann, london. Youll need a vacuum with a lowsuction setting and a softbrush attachment. With a few exceptions, you want to avoid introducing wetmedia to your dry book. Mar 29, 2019 if your book is extremely dirty or dusty, you might need to vacuum the surface. Browse and buy a vast selection of old dust jackets collections.
Our used and rare book store is located on the wine trail in the beautiful finger lakes area of upstate new york southeast of rochester near canandaigua, ny. There can be no defects, no missing pages, no library stamps, etc. One of the first questions that comes up is does the book have the dust jacket. But make sure to use a dust jacket thats similar in size to your book to ensure a good fit. Eliot on the wrapper of an old faber and faber poetry book, or an original illustration by a renowned artist. Feb 06, 2017 i love dust jacketsto me they are a piece of art. Aug 29, 20 looking at a beautifully designed book cover is one thing, but if you only get the front, you arent getting the whole story. These days, a lot of books come with an extra dust jacket for better protection. I have to admit, i always removed the book jackets dust covers from my classroom library. This space can be used for any number of things, such as a book summary or an about the author section.
How dust jackets play a key role in value of collectible. If throwing away dust jackets is book mutilation, so is removing the subscription card in a magazine this is true if you care about magazines. I protect the dust jackets with a clear archival cover to keep them pristine or in the case of a used book, to keep them from deteriorating. To these the restorer of dust jackets must add a high level of skill in color matching and a high level of ability in copying the original image. I sell no more than 1520 of these per year if that as they are laborintensive. Tls is the leading manufacturer in highquality book jacket covers.
Follow this simple process to protect and maintain your books without breaking the bank buying professional book. I care about books, and this discussion is about mranonymous wanting to throw away parts of his books. Those who love old books are all too aware that the original dust jacket. The estimated values are for first edition books, with dust jackets. I feel these dust jackets are an important part of our culture. Dont hate on the dust jacket some people would like to get rid of dust jackets those glossy outer covers of hardcover books. Jan 22, 2020 facsimile dust jackets llc is the sole funding for mark terrys dust jacket archive project. If you use a regular duster, hold the book tightly shut. Old books are a charming link to the past, but quite a fragile one.
If you are unsure, you may to wish to search for books between two defined dates eg 1870 and 1880. Feast your eyes on these beatiful book covers from 1917 to. It was discovered at the bodleian library in oxford by michael turner, a former curator and head of conservation at the library. It adheres strongly, is commendably thin, and works very well. By definition, the dust jacket is a books detachable outer cover. How to cover and protect hardback books without a dust jacket. Much of the value of a modern first edition resides in the book jacket. Brodart has a wide variety and large selection of book jacket covers for books of many sizes. As others have mentioned, i, too, take the dust jacket off while im reading a book and put it back on when im finished. If you are vacuuming a particularly old or fragile book, consider placing a piece of cheesecloth between the vacuum hose and attachment to reduce suction. In addition to its promotional role, the dust jacket protects the book covers from damage.
How to get rid of a musty smell in books thoughtco. No books all jackets state facsimile dust jackets l. Indicate whether the book is hardcover or softcover. Japanese tissue, paper repair, talas, tape removal during a recent visit to my favorite used book store, the brattle book shop, i stumbled across a book that i thought would make a great gift for a friend of mine, who will soon be moving out to chicago to start work on. Dirt visible dirt and dust isnt just grody technical term, it can degrade the paper and binding of the book and attract insects. These seven creative ideas for book jackets help extend narratives through imaginative play and written expression. Remove the book s dust jacket before vacuuming and always turn your book upside down so dust doesnt make its way into the pages. Honestly it was difficult finding a video out there on the interwebs that was not extremely difficult to figure out or had. How dust jackets play a key role in value of collectible books january 23, 2017 in stories by jessie gusman in this throwaway society it seems ironic that the 19thcentury innovation known as a dust jacket is no longer discarded once the book it was designed to protect is brought home. Start by taking off the dust jacket and holding the book upside down to prevent dirt from dropping into the pages. Before, hard cover books didnt have pictures or complex decoration on them, the covers where plain and simple, one.
Dust jacket covers custom book dust jacket printing. In addition to providing protection to the cover of your book, our dust jackets include two 3. If you are interested in a particular author or illustrator you can browse available reprojackets from. Ive used this product extensively to mend tears in the dust jackets of books. Copy that occurs on the back cover of a softcover book would generally appear on the front and back flaps of the dust jacket of a casebound book. Offering reproductions of dust jackets published before 1976 facsimile dust jackets llc is the sole funding for mark terrys dust jacket archive project.
This often leads to great disappointment as it is difficult for someone not familiar with the antiquarian and rare book market to fully appreciate the value of a dust jacket on a literary first edition. The reasoning behind book dust jacket while there is a hardcover. Fragile in nature, wrapping around the hard covers, they have received the hardest wear and often discarded when they became. Day of the triffids dust jacket in need of restoration. What do you do with the dust jacket from a hardcover book. Diy replace antique book dust jacket cover youtube. A wide selection is already available for collectable and important books, and the repertoire is ever growing. Please feel free to browse or search our catalog for that book youve always wanted.
Etsy is the home to thousands of handmade, vintage, and oneofakind products and gifts related to your search. However, you can also use them to cover up older book covers. More serious damage from insects, acid, or damp is difficult but not impossible to. Dust jackets clearly dont actually protect a book from dust, and a quick skim of the wikipedia page for dust jackets shows that they never did. Many of the most recognizable dust jackets were designed by artists handpicked by the author or their publisher. All dust jackets are covered with clear brodart covers. Take care to repair remember, everyone judges books by their covers. The oldest publishers dust jacket now on record was issued in 1829 on an english annual, friendships offering for 1830. The first edition of the 1934 classic published by scribners depicts the books setting, the french riviera. If the book is a hardcover and has a dust jacket then tick the relevant box. An educational and informational site about rare, old and antiquarian books.
This selection of gorgeous vintage dust jackets ranges from abstract design to detailed illustration. The site also contains articles on reprojackets, how they are produced, and links for further reading. Sun will permanently fade dust jackets and covers, which can severely devalue rare books. Most hard cover books published since the early 20th century were sold with a dust jacket. A missing dust jacket, or a dust jacket that is in poor condition, can cut a collectible book s value more than 50%, and make it harder to find a buyer.
A simple, colorful design adorns this 1929 first edition published by scribners. For your special subject area, please check under keywords. If your shelves are in sunlight and theres nothing you can do about it, wrap the dust jacket in a uvresistant plastic book cover available at craft stores or online. We try to avoid book club editions, exlibrary books or hurt books. Protecting your books should be high on your list of priorities if you are a book lover or intend to keep your book for a long period of time. The dust jacket makes the book look more puttogether and dressed in my mind my toddler immediately removes the dust jackets from her books and tries to with mine. The following table is an excerpt from our book the childrens picturebook price guide. The beginners guide to cleaning your books book riot. The modern glossy dust jacket seems to protect books better than the older ones. All i need is the height, width, and spine width of your book. However, since it is itself relatively fragile, and since dust jackets have practical, aesthetic and sometimes financial value, the jacket may in turn be wrapped in another jacket, usually transparent, especially if the book is a library volume. Acidfree book covers are easytoapply and keep your material protect from oil, dirt, grease, spills and rain.
Your kids will have so much fun, youll never look at a book cover the same way again. Jan 25, 2017 when a dust jacket rips, the book may never circulate again. If there is one single thing that is a make or break for book value, it would be the dust jacket. If the book is signed by the author, tick the relevant box. Facsimile dust jackets llc is the sole funding for mark terrys dust jacket archive project. If there are smudges or pencil marks in the book, get a gum eraser from an art supply store and erase the marks with it, working in one direction to avoid crinkling or ripping the pages. Here are a few general suggestions for cleaning the books in your library. Identifying, and valuing first edition dr seuss books. For true spring cleaning and repair, the dust jacket must be removed from the book and placed face down and open, its exterior exposed to whatever it rests on. Old scrolls used and rare book shop old scrolls book shop.
A college roommate of mine removed the dust jackets from his books and. Aug 11, 2011 dust jacket repair post on august 11, 2011 by jackie divis doyle tagged. Indeed, for modern first editions, a book without the dust jacket will sell for only a fraction of the price. Book covers, dust jackets, and casewrap books the book. Rare dust jackets mean big bucks in the antiquarian book business. Surviving pre1920 jackets add some additional value to the book they cover and, in some cases, can be worth much more than the book itself. Simple dust jacket cleaning, such as the gentle wiping with a soft cloth that can be done with the jacket in place around its book, is just the start.
But a great way to repurpose them as decor starts by covering their covers with dust jackets. Careful dust jacket restoration includes removing any tape or other poorly made repairs, properly mending tears and filling in paper losses. Dust jackets from phantom bookshop browse recent arrivals. Because dented book jackets are really common with other people. Dec 14, 2012 the beginners guide to cleaning your books. Tls has a variety of archival safe book covers and archival safe book jacket covers. The dust jacket of a book is the detachable outer cover, usually made of paper and printed with.
A brief history of the dust jacket books tell you why, inc. The dust jackets use significantly increased after 1920, when publishers used them as decorations with artistic designs and styles. It is three years older than the previous oldest known jacket, which was discovered in 1934 by the english bookman john carter on another. Jul 12, 2018 book dust jackets are essential to ensuring a book s longevity. Describing an old book state library of pennsylvania. Store old books or any book you want to pay extra attention to out of direct sunlight. Value of a dust jacket on a rare first edition rare book.
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