Texas Heritage, Summer 2002 Page: 46
46 p. : ill. ; 28 cm.View a full description of this periodical.
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PRESERVING
Care For Rare Books
By Cheryl CarrabbaPreservation of rare books is a life-long endeavor.
Ownership of something rare carries with it the responsibility
of its preservation and stewardship. If one owns a book of
value-either sentimental or monetary-one must think
very seriously about the "life" of the book.
The most important thing to remember is that damage is
cumulative and oftentimes irreversible.
Books are comprised of a mix of materials, most of which
are organic and vulnerable to inherent deterioration. Books
printed before the 1860s have a relatively shorter shelf life
than those printed after that time because the newer books
were printed on a higher grade of paper. In general, handbound
books use a higher quality of paper, leather, sewing
threads, etc. These books are guaranteed to last longer
unless conditions are unfavorable. The environment, both
within the book covers and around it, affects longevity.
Private homes, historic houses, libraries, and even highly
controlled rare book rooms in special collections have the
same set of guidelines for the care of each item.
Factors contributing to the rate of deterioration have a
cumulative effect. Repeated exposure to direct sun, dust,
grime, humidity, insects, storage in acid-producing boxes
and sleeves, and even the placement next to a poor quality
volume creates a block of acidity and deterioration that is
difficult to combat. Paper and cloth bindings should never
be stored in direct contact with leather bindings. Acidity
and oils within leather will migrate into paper and cloth and
hasten their deterioration.
Proper handling is of the utmost importance in the preservation
of books. All handling ultimately wears on the materials,
but poor handling leads to serious irreparable damage.
Never pull a book off the shelf by the head caps or dig into
the spine. Using force to make a book lie flat will fracture
brittle pages, outer joints and inner hinges, and sewing
structure. The covers should always be supported when a
book is open.Good air circulation prevents a host of ills in storage areas
and on book shelves. Keep books at least three inches away
from walls, especially if the bookshelf is against an outside
wall or against the back wall of a closed cabinet. Humidity
and stagnant air should not be allowed to accumulate. In
addition, the temperature should remain cool and steady.
Books that are structurally sound should be shelved
upright; heavy, oversized books or damaged, weak books
should be stored flat rather then upright to give them overall
support. Ideally, stacked books should be individually
boxed to protect delicate bindings, raised areas of leather, or
gold tooling.
Photocopying is a means by which unnecessary damage is
caused to the spine, boards, and pages of books. Copiers
with edge platens that allow a book to be copied at 90
degrees should be used, and copying should be done by an
experienced person. If the book is too brittle to copy it
should be microfilmed instead, and a photocopy made from
the film copy.
One of the most protective means of storage for a book is
a custom box made of strong acid-free boards covered in
cloth. Drop spine and phase boxes are preferable because
they provide good support and keep books cleaner. Fragile
bindings and books that are of low value or rarely used
should be enclosed in board or permanent durable papers.
To select the professional best qualified to treat your book
contact the referral service maintained by the American
Institute for Conservation at http://aic.stanford.edu or 202452-9545.Cheryl Carrabba is the owner of Carrabba Conservation, Inc. in
Austin.
Readers should send questions about preserving personal
artifacts to: THF, Attn: Conservator, P.O. Box 50314,
Austin, TX 78763, or by email to cgray@thfonline.org.HERITAGE ' SUMMER 2002
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Texas Historical Foundation. Texas Heritage, Summer 2002, periodical, Summer 2002; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth45381/m1/46/: accessed April 26, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas Historical Foundation.