Archive for November, 2011
Mother Nature can wreak havoc on rare books. Sunning, water damage, and humidity can all cause damage to your collection. Another enemy of your books may also be lurking on your shelves: the dreaded bookworm. They’ll tunnel right into the block, riddling the book with countless gullies and channels.
Bookworms aren’t really worms—they’re actually the larvae of several species of beetles. While these insects don’t generally attack modern books, they pose a significant threat to antiquarian books. The critters seem particularly fond of the glues used on the backs of older books, particularly those of Italian provenance. From the backs of the books, the insects often move on to the block, munching right through the pages.
You may have seen the telltale signs of bookworms: fine dust falling from between the pages when you open up a favorite volume, or tiny piles of paper dust on your shelves. These insects also don’t stop munching when they’re done with your favorite tomes. They may also feast on your bookshelves. A few simple steps will help keep your library pest free:
- Keep food away from your books! I love a good snack while reading just as much as the next person, but crumbs in books attract all kinds of insects.
- Use camphor or naphthalene as a deterrent. You can soak linen in either, and place it on the bookshelf. Re-soak the fabric whenever the scent fades.
- Some experts recommend sprinkling fine pepper along the edges of the bookshelf, though Keating’s Insect Powder might be an equally effective alternative.
- Don’t use pesticide or plastic wrapping on your rare books without first consulting a professional.
- Maintain optimum humidity levels in your library. High moisture levels can attract insects.
If insects have struck your rare books, it’s important to act fast if you want to prevent further damage. To kill existing insects, place the book in a bag with a cloth soaked in ether. Repeat every two weeks for a few months to kill any other larvae that may have hatched.
If insects have damaged the boards of your book, talk to a professional book binder about your options. The boards may require replacement. This is often the best course of action, since the old boards may still contain insect eggs. A qualified book binder will be able to assess the damage and suggest multiple options for repair.
After investing in rebinding and repair, you may want to consider a clamshell case for your book. Made to precisely fit each book, clamshell cases offer extra protection from dust and moisture.
November 30th, 2011
We all know that aroma. Perhaps it evokes trips to the library as a child, or the cozy ambience of a grandfather’s study. It’s the distinctive scent of old books.
The Science behind the Scent
Scientists say that “old book smell” is more than just mustiness; it contains hints of grass and vanilla. That’s because all the compounds used to make the book release distinctive odors as they break down. For example, lignin, which is present in all wood-based paper, is closely related to vanillin. As it breaks down, the lignin grants old books that faint vanilla scent.
It’s even possible to approximate the age of a book based on its smell. Chemists have identified 15 substances often present in books (known as VOC’s) that degrade (and therefore emit a gas) at a predictable rate. The researcher behind the project, Matija Strlic of University College London’s Centre for Sustainable Heritage, was inspired to investigate when he saw a conservator sniffing paper to assess its quality. Chemist Lorraine Gibson has taken Strlic’s research further, and is working on a test to help experts date books and other paper materials based on the VOC breakdown.
Banishing Other Odors from the Library
But what if a book has a stronger (and less pleasant) odor? Cookbooks, for instance, may smell of food if they’ve been stored in the kitchen. Other scents that may creep into your pages include tobacco or nicotine. Poor air circulation—along with the resulting mold and mildew—are also frequent culprits of malodorous pages.
While an unappealing smell doesn’t directly impact the value of a rare book, it can decrease your enjoyment of that book. If that’s the case, have hope! With these tips from the Dartmouth College Library, you can rid your volumes of unwanted odor:
- Find a container large enough to hold your book, and another larger container with a lid. A garbage can and a plastic crate work well. Just be sure that the containers have never been used for food or liquid.
- Place an odor-absorbing material (like baking soda, charcoal briquettes, or even kitty litter) in the larger container.
- Gently open your book and place it flat inside the container. If you’re doing multiple books at once, you can also leave the books upright, with the pages slightly fanned out.
- Put the smaller container inside the larger one, and close the lid of the larger container.
- Check the book after several days. If the book still stinks, close it up again. If the offending smell has dissipated, put the book back in your library.
And a word about your library: it’s necessary to take a few precautions to keep the smell from returning. Be sure that the air circulates well in your library, and control both temperature and humidity. Gently dust your books on a regular basis, as dirt and other buildup can encourage the growth of mold and mildew.
November 23rd, 2011
What’s your favorite part of Thanksgiving? Perhaps it’s the golden brown turkey, or Grandma’s green bean casserole. But we know it’s probably the pumpkin pie…Whatever your Thanksgiving Day favorites may be, find some inspiration to shake things up this year.
Take a Cue from Culinary Visionaries
Whether you’re an amateur foodie, a serious cookbook collector, or a true blue epicurean, you’ll find inspiration in the words and work of great chefs.
- Thanksgiving is all about comfort food, and no chef does that better than Paula Deen. Cooks love her rich, hearty recipes, and collectors love Deen’s status as an icon of the American culinary scene.
- One woman singlehandedly changed the face of cooking: Julia Child. Enthusiasts still look to Child’s cookbooks for guidance on creating classic recipes—with a bit of flair. She remains a perennial favorite among chefs and rare book collectors alike.
- If you want cooking the Thanksgiving meal to be a family affair, look to celebrity chef Emeril Lagasse. A crowd favorite, Lagasse makes cooking accessible to people of every ability level.
Look to the Past for Inspiration
Cooking and cuisine have evolved over the years, and Thanksgiving is a wonderful time to revisit our culinary roots with rare cookbooks.
Add an International Twist
Sure, Thanksgiving celebrates the beginnings of America. But that doesn’t mean we should stick only to American fare. The same goes for any cookbook collection; bring an international flavor to your table—and your shelf—this season.
- Thanksgiving is all about tasting a wide variety of dishes. What better way to carry on that tradition with tapas from Spain? Bring a taste of robust flavor to the table this year.
- The holiday also gives us an opportunity to visit with family. And the cuisine of Italy is synonymous with family-style dining.
As we head into the holidays, the kitchen and dinner table will be the center of attention. Now’s the perfect time to supplement your cookbook collection.
November 9th, 2011
Charles Dickens has inspired generations of writers, readers, and book lovers. Born in 1812, Dickens earned the reputation of preeminent novelist of the Victorian era. His contributions to literature mean that Charles Dickens’ books remain incredibly appealing to rare book collectors. Bet you didn’t know these tidbits about Charles Dickens:
- Dickens’ novels and stories first appeared in monthly or serial format. Most authors of his day would write entire novels, and publish sections at a time. Dickens, on the other hand, wrote each episode as he went along.
- His novels and short stories are so popular that they have never gone out of print.
- Dickens’ father, John, was a notorious spendthrift who eventually ended up in debtors’ prison. The rest of the family soon joined him–with the exception of 12-year-old Charles, who went to live with an old family friend.
- Dickens was eventually forced to leave school and take a job in a blacking factory. He worked ten-hour days in often cruel conditions. Dickens’ experience there formed the foundation of Dickens’ opinions on labor and socioeconomic conditions.
- For almost four years, Dickens served as a court reporter. That inside look at the court system informed novels like Dombey and Son. It also provided Dickens’ contemporaries with an enlightening glimpse at how England’s court system really worked.
- Dickens met his first love, Maria Beadnell, in 1830. Her parents disapproved of Dickens and sent Maria to boarding school in Paris. Most scholars agree that Maria was the inspiration behind Dora in David Copperfield.
- When Dickens published his first work, Sketches by Boz, he certainly chose an odd pseudonym. Dickens had nicknamed his brother “Moses,” which when pronounced through the nose, sounds like “Boses.” Boz was the shortened version of this nickname.
- For years, Dickens’ full pseudonym was “The Inimitable Boz.” Eventually he dropped “Boz” and was known simply as “The Inimitable.”
- Dickens, an avid abolitionist, made his first visit to the US in 1842. He carefully documented the atrocities of slavery. Dickens also visited President John Tyler.
- In May 1846, Dickens undertook to establish a home for “fallen women” at the behest of Angela Burdett Coutts. He became extremely active in daily operations, and even interviewed potential residents personally.
- In 1858, Dickens separated from his wife, Catherine, with whom he had ten children. He embarked on an ambitious reading tour, sometimes doing both matinee and evening performances.
- Dickens burned virtually all his personal correspondence in September 1860, ostensibly to destroy evidence of his affair with Ellen Ternan. Ternan received an annuity from Dickens when he died, and it is hypothesized that the two had a child who died in infancy.
- Dickens exercised an odd obsession with the paranormal. He was one of the early members of The Ghost Club, an organization devoted to investigation of paranormal activity.
Collectors of Charles Dickens rely on the definitive bibliography compiled by John C. Eckel in 1932.
November 2nd, 2011
