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How to Protect Rare Books

Rare books are treasures that need careful storage and protection so that they will retain the best possible condition. This will allow the books to increase in value and to become part of your estate to be passed down to your heirs. You just need to follow a few easy and fairly inexpensive tips to protect your collection of rare books.

Things You'll Need

Powder-coated paint
Book shelves
Book ends
Acid free archival storage boxes
Acid free archival tissue paper

Instructions

- 1
  Prepare your bookshelves so that your books will be in the best possible environment. Make sure that the air circulates freely around each shelf. The bookshelves should not be against exterior walls to keep the temperature the most constant. There should be several inches between the floor and the lowest bookshelf, again to allow for the best circulation of the air. Paint the bookshelves with a powder-coated finish. This gives a protection similar to the use of acid free storage boxes.
- 2
  Place the books so that they fit standing on their base on the bookshelves. Use bookends to keep the books standing straight upright.
- 3
  Wash your hands before handling your rare books. Keep food and drinks away from the books. Do not mark your place with rubber bands or paper clips which can leave marks or tear the pages. Never force a book all the way open. This will break the spine and diminish the book's condition and value.
- 4
  Store very rare or fragile books in archival boxes. Use one box for each book that matches its size. Stuff any gaps between the box and the book with wads of archival acid free tissue paper.

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