Book Conservation

[Gary_W]

If you're like me you probably get your books from many different sources, including charity shops, jumble sales, and secondhand book stalls.
A lot of people won't buy a particular book because it has a damp musty smell to it. If you have any titles with that odour try sealing it in a bag of cat litter for a week (unused cat litter) and hey presto the smell is gone.

[~V~]

Ooooh that's clever. Especially as I have a few musty books as I (slowly) unpack boxes

[Esiotrot]

Same method, but try using Bicarbonate of Soda - you can put a open tub of it in a box with a few books.
Kx

[Gary_W]

On the subject of book conservation and odours, have you noticed how many people these days selling books put in their description that "This book comes from a smoke free environment"?
Well strangely cigarette smoke is excellent for absorbing nasty smells, so totally smoke free environments are not necessarily great for books.

[Esiotrot]

Personally I think Cigarette smoke is the worst smell possible and I wont buy a book unless it has 'from a smoke free home' in the description.
I have had a few bad experiances from 2nd hand books - when you open the package its like they have sent you a used ashtray tray rather than a book :irked:.

[Gary_W]

Personally I think Cigarette smoke is the worst smell possible and I wont buy a book unless it has 'from a smoke free home' in the description.
I have had a few bad experiances from 2nd hand books - when you open the package its like they have sent you a used ashtray tray rather than a book :irked:.

If you think cigarette smoke is the worst smell possible you must have led a very sheltered life.
I sell thousands of used books each year and I wouldn't dream of stating they are from a smoke free environment because I wouldn't know.
I went to an auction once where they had a particular book I was after, it was published in 1762 and the auction had stated in their catalogue that it had come from a smoke free environment. Can't really see how they know that.

[Esiotrot]

If you think cigarette smoke is the worst smell possible you must have led a very sheltered life.


Thats a bit presumptuous - whether I have or havent led a sheltered life doesnt matter a jot. For the record I havent and have smelt a very wide range of things over my lifetime :mrgreen: - I just cant stand the smell of smoke, it makes me gag.
It might not be a factor in other people buying books but it does figure in my decision making. I personally would prefer to pay more to ensure I didnt end up with a smoke infested book. Hence I wouldnt buy a 2nd hand book online unless it stated it was smoke free.
Each to their own ;)

[Gary_W]

Thats a bit presumptuous - whether I have or havent led a sheltered life doesnt matter a jot. For the record I havent and have smelt a very wide range of things over my lifetime :mrgreen: - I just cant stand the smell of smoke, it makes me gag.
It might not be a factor in other people buying books but it does figure in my decision making. I personally would prefer to pay more to ensure I didnt end up with a smoke infested book. Hence I wouldnt buy a 2nd hand book online unless it stated it was smoke free.
Each to their own ;)

I think it was working at Beckton Sewerage Works when I first left school, and having the job of clearing the excessive build up of used toilet paper from the filter gratings with a garden fork that made me a little less sensitive to everyday odours.
On the question of stating that a secondhand book is coming from a smoke free zone, I just think the dealers that do this are just saying it because they think it might get more people to buy their books. They have no idea if the book is smoke free.