Storage, care and insurance

Store books vertically, not lying flat on their backs. Lying flat allows boards to warp and spines to distort over time. Books should be supported by neighbouring volumes or bookends and should not be packed so tightly that they are difficult to remove without stressing the binding. Store away from exterior walls, which are subject to humidity and temperature fluctuation

Direct sunlight fades spines and can damage paper over time. Acid-free boxes for significant individual books provide the best protection. Never repair a significant book yourself. Tape, adhesive, and amateur rebinding cause damage that is expensive to reverse and reduces value even after professional conservation

Insure under a specialist fine art or collectibles policy with agreed value for significant books.

CollectorGrade take

Amateur repair is the most common preventable cause of value reduction in rare books. Never use tape on a rare book. Never attempt rebinding or paper repair yourself. Professional conservators exist for this reason.