Should I take the dust cover off books?

Should I take the dust cover off books?

Some readers remove their dust jackets—or even use them as bookmarks! But when it comes to rare books or collectible books, dust jackets should be treated with significant care as they often add significant value to the book.

What is the point of a book dust jacket?

What is the purpose of a Dust Jacket? As the name implies, a dust jacket will indeed help keep dust off the cover of a book. But more importantly, it protects the book from damaging scuffs, spills and grime. As such, a gloss or matte laminate is often added to a dust jacket to increase durability and stain resistance.

Why do hardcover books have dust jackets?

The role of a dust jacket has been largely supplanted by modern hardcover printing technologies, which prints such information directly on to the binding. Modern dust covers still serve to display promotional material and shield the book from damage. The dust jacket protects the book covers from damage.

How do you remove dust from a book jacket?

Vaseline is petrolatum, (petroleum jelly), and it can be useful. A dab of it on a soft, clean cloth can often get rid of smudges on dust jackets. Wipe it on and wipe it off with a cleaning agent like a Document Cleaning Pad.

Are book sleeves worth it?

The simple answer is this; it protects your books from the elements in the world. The book sleeve will prevent your covers and pages of your most prized possessions from situations like this and keeps them looking brand new! Plus they are a fun accessory to have!

Are dust jackets valuable?

In the 1920s there was a resurgence of collecting modern first editions, and a widespread insistence on a high standard of condition made the dust jacket more vital than ever. Because dust jackets were disposable for so long, today they are considered to be one of the most valuable aspects of a collectible modern book.

How do you clean book dust?

Use the soft-bristle attachment of a vacuum hose to remove the dust from the top edge of the book, which is now facing down. For more delicate pages, remove loose dirt with a soft, lint-free cloth, like a cut-up old t-shirt, or a very soft paintbrush.

Do you throw away dust jackets?

A 2012 poll on Goodreads of more than 4000 users found that 7.5% discard their dust jackets. In that same 2012 Goodreads survey, almost two-thirds of participants said they remove the dust jacket while they’re reading the book and return it once they’re finished.

Do paperback books have dust jackets?

A paperback is a book that has a cover made of heavy paper and it doesn’t usually have a dust jacket as the cover is printed on to the front of the book.

Should you cover books with plastic?

Don’t keep books in plastic bags. They need to breathe, and plastic may trap moisture, encouraging mold, warping, and pests. The plastic may also react with the book. If you really want to store a book in a bag, there are better options – try a paper bag or wrap the book in paper, tissue, or plain cloth.

What happens if a book’s DUST JACKET is missing?

Dust jackets are not. Most booksellers do not buy a book if its dust jacket is missing unless it is a rare book. That means when you remove the jacket from the typical run-of-the-mill book, you have reduced its value to zero. A missing dust jacket will reduce the value of a collectible book by 75-90%.

Is the wear you see on a dust jacket better?

The wear you see on a dust jacket is the wear you would see on a book’s covers if it did not have a jacket. The modern glossy dust jacket seems to protect books better than the older ones.

What did I do with all the book jackets?

With that in mind, I pulled off all the book jackets and set to organizing the books loosely by color and size. This is just one bookshelf, and it’s still very much in progress.

What’s the best way to clean a dust jacket?

By using a mild cleaning solution on a damp cloth, or better yet a solution designed for the purpose sold by companies like Brodart, it is often possible to clean coffee cup and soda can circles, other drink and food stains and the remnants of price stickers from a glossy dust jacket without damaging it.