I work at a book donation warehouse and I seem to be the only one who gets excited when I see books from 1920 and older come down the conveyer. I searched this cause recently I've aquire quite a bushel of antique books from work. Just today I took home 2 books from 1840. They let me take them home because their basically falling apart. I chose to put them in a zip lock storage bag with a paper towel to catch the moisture I'm not sure if that was idea. Idk
1840! That's amazing! :D Sounds like an awesome, rewarding job. Keep up the good work, saving antique books from the shredder! :) Interesting idea with your storage, personally, it makes me think about doing the same, but with oxygen absorbers... Ugh! Now I have to test something else out! Hahaha Thanks for the comment and subscribe! Have a great day, and keep collecting! :)
Sounds fun, I’ve been finding old 1907 and 1889 books at my local goodwill. Just curious where do you work at? And have you tried selling your antique finds?
I too will add paper towel to bags if I need some stray moisture captured :) Protip: toast bread, make a PB&J with it, wrap it ina paper towel until it cools down a bit, put it in a ziploc bag, and you now have a pb&j that doesnt need refrigerater and will still be BUSSIN 6+ HOURSSSS later 😎 the paper towel keeps it from bein' weird
For entirely different purposes, I've ordered moisturizer absorbing silica packs....I think your method of the paper towels would be even better- more suitable to the geometry of the books 👍👍
Thanks for another great video! I’m just starting my book selling adventure and was given hundreds of free books. None of which were stored properly. Within the mix I’ve found some amazing vintage and antique books. I’ve also bought a few on my own. I’m currently storing them properly but many of them have that musty smell. I’ve wiped them off to get rid of some of the surface dust and dirt, but is there anything else that can be done to mitigate the smell or is it just one of the “joys” of storing antique books? Thanks again for all of the great info!
There are tricks to mitigate old book smell, for one, I'd recommend an air purifier. Putting the books in an airtight box with an open container of baking soda can help too. Both methods take some time though. Long term I'd shoot for an air purifier, airpurifieressentials.com is a good site to learn about those. But there will still be some times when baking soda is the best call. :)
@@antiquebookcollective I've heard of the baking soda method, but I have so many musty books I haven't tried it yet. I don't know why, but I never even thought of the air purifier. I'll put one in the room today. Thanks again!!
@@heatherryan8530 Glad to help! :D I'm a huge fan of air purifiers, trust me, they do WONDERS with books--especially in the long run. I've got a really nice one made for 1000 square foot rooms and I use that around my books. When it's on low it's able to clear the air in a day or so, and (over time) it reduces book stink. Again, I'll be making a video on this in the future, since it's such an important thing for us resellers! Until then, happy selling!
@@antiquebookcollectiveHave you ever used ozone generating machines to de-stink books and/or other items? Using ozone requires a few safety precautions, but otherwise is pretty easy.
Hello! Really love your advices here. I was always passionate about collecting old stuff and recently, got into collecting antique books! However, I do some question which I’d LOVE any answer. 1) does the stack and keeping in boxes apply to both storing and shipping the books? If yes, does it apply to books in different sort of covers (e.g. leather, paperback..)? 2) I’ve also heard from few websites that cardboard are often “acidic” and could be damaging to antique books, is that really such a big deal and would it actually damage my book? Thanks and Happy New Year! 💙
Thanks for the questions! So, let me just say right off the bat that I'm not the biggest expert in the world on this--I'm just 24 here! Hahaha That being said, I've done tons of research and have figured things out on my own beyond that. However, you might want to consult a real expert if you want the absolute best advice on storage. I find my stuff is more than good enough, but they might have better tips and tricks. That being said, here are my answers: 1. Stacking is just if you have a lot of books and very little space. It isn't good to stack your books too high for too long. Try to keep it under a foot or so high of books. :) Keeping books in boxes is just for shipping, boxes are NOT great for storing the books long term because it makes it too hard to check on your books and you can't admire them either! Shelves are the best--just make sure there isn't a leak above your shelves! :) 2. Acidity can and does damage books. Long term it can hurt the covers as well, but that damage is usually most prevalent on pages in books. HOWEVER, acidity does still damage your covers. It will, at the very least, cause discoloration. Hope that helps! Happy New Year to you too. :)
We had a leaky roof but weren't aware. It dripped on a chair for months, and the chair got mold. My books were about 3 meters (10 feet) away but were dry. The room's walls don't seem to have mold. I don't see any mold on any book, so I assume they don't have mold? Is there a way to make sure?
Your books almost certainly got some mold spore on them, but there's mold everywhere and books have some spores in them the second they're made. A little mold isn't the end of the world, but it can be negative for people with asthma. I'm told blacklight can show of mold's iridescence and let you see if it's bad, but ai have yet to actually see that. For me, I just make sure that the books I have stay dry and I always have an air purifier going in the room they are in. It could be wroth using an ozone generator in the room your books are in to kill any mold and spores that might be in there. Personally I would 110% use an ozone generator in there. All of that being said, there are tests you can do for mold, but I don't really worry about doing those myself, I just ensure my books are dry and in a room that's between 35 and 50 percent humidity. Hope all that helps!
@@antiquebookcollective Thank you. I tested the humidity in the room and it was 44%. Just to be sure I moved all my books to the living room where there is more ventilation and light. You are so knowledgeable and kind for having answered my questions.
@@sophieedel6324 Happy it helped! I'd highly recommend having a weekend day that you can spend outside and laying your books out in the sun for maybe 4 hours in total. Over exposure to sunlight will sunbleach them, but the UV light of the sun will help sanitize them and lessen your mold risk. :)
I know of a lot of people who store books in plastic. Air tightness is cool for that, for sure. Personally, I don't want to use that many plastic bags though. It's not entirely necessary when you're able to store your books at the temperatures and humidity I recommended in this video. :) (In plastic bags heat can still be a problem though, so keep that in mind!)
Glad you liked it! I have not and will not ever store books in Ziplocks for long term storage because I've seen plastic ruin enough items after being in contact with them for an extended period of time. All of the things I've seen were irreparably damaged or marred due to plastic which does not last forever in any way shape or form. In short, I don't recommend it and won't be testing it out myself! Hope that helps. :)
@antiquebookcollective Thank you for your reply! Also i wanted to ask you, what do you think about storing comics/books in those anti acid plastic bags? I have seen lots of videos doing this.
@gaku95 I have seen those and seen comics that have been in those bags for 30 to 40 years without issue, which I suppose is pretty good! A lot of my concerns arose because of things like the old PVC coin holders, low grade plastics, and other such ones that people used that broke down and the effect of that ruined, damaged, or marked what they were supposed to protect. For me, I tend to revert to the old way of things as often as possible because even the "tested" new things aren't tested enough. I want a hundred years of testing if I am working with something a hundred years old because it's tried and true. Might not be the best, but it's a known risk. That's just me though! :)
I've used them and like them. My sole gripe with them is that they oftentimes have slanted sides and bumps at the bottoms which aren't always great for keeping your books pristine. (The slanted sides allow them to move around too much when you move them and the bumps and grooves on the bottom can permanently dent the books.) That being said, there are some great plastic bins out there for books too! I do use them, I'm just selective with which ones I pick up. When storing your books, remember the rule about laying the books on their cover sides though (or spines, I've done that too). Anyhows, thanks for the comment and I wish you the best in your book buying (and storing) journey! :)
Would laying the newspapers on squares of cardboard (stacked) be helpful? I'm very uncertain on acidity and oxidation factors, and seem to be surprised by the various red flags out there, so I'm asking to avoid a preventable blunder. TY in advance!
I've so far collected 4 books with victorian fashion magazines (from the years 1863, 1872, 1880 and 1893) and some magazines from 1949-1951, I was looking into the best ways of storing them. I'm definitely not going to put them upright, they're quite heavy. They are currently being stored in very basic cardboard boxes with some silica gels to absorb excess moisture (they are all stored separately). But i was looking into acid free archival boxes as many conservators often talk about them. I'm wondering if you have any opinions on them.
First off, that's incredible! Super, super cool finds! :D The silica gel packets are a good call, for sure. Don't overdo it though, too little moisture in the air can be harmful as well. (Sounds like you're doing it well right now though.) I don't have any recommendations for archival boxes, sorry. :( However, I'd like to say that you should be careful with plastic boxes to store your books in, if you opt to go that route in the future. Plastic isn't always your best friend if you're going for long term storage. Some plastic breaks down and gets greasy and nasty, some release stuff that permeates and discolors your books, and others do other things. I just mention that about plastics because I know of quite a few people who use those as their "safe" airtight containers. Sorry I couldn't answer your question, maybe there's a local museum you could ask? Happy stacking and collecting though! :D
@@antiquebookcollective yes I've heard plastic can be quite harmful for storing pieces long term so I'm definitely not planning on doing that. I've heard moisture can build up in plastic containers as well. I'll look further into the acid free boxes, in the hopes of making the books last longer. They're in pretty good condition considering their age so they won't fail me anytime soon, but you can never be sure.
Hi If I have a closed wooden bookshelf but sometimes the sunlight hits on the door, is it still safe for the book inside the shelf? I live in a tropical country.
@@antiquebookcollective thanks for the reply! i spend the night researching and found your youtube videos since my old book stored in the wooden cabinet mentioned was getting more yellow patches in the page. and its been the longest drought season here. :')
@@machamacaroon9591 It could be a humidity thing, or your books might even be roasting in there like an oven when the sun is on them, so I'd recommend buying a humidity sensor to see how wet it is in there and some of those, even the super cheap ones, can have thermometers, so you can figure that out as well. Could get you some answers! If nothing else, it could be worth putting a little dish of baking soda in there. That should absorb some moisture and you can see if it helps. :)
@@antiquebookcollective ohh well noted! thank you for all the advices 🙏 im trying the baking soda atm. does it prevent further or reduce the yellow patches?
@@machamacaroon9591 If you're lucky it might stop or slow things, but there's no knowing for sure without the humidity check. It won't reduce them though. Depending on the age of your books, they're going to yellow no matter what though, it depends on the paper itself to a degree and that's a case by case thing that I won't know. Good luck!
I got a pocket dictionary that's from the 1930s from my grandmother. Literally all the pages are hanging on by a thread. I want to glue them back to the spine but I know that's a bad idea
You can check out some book binding videos on TH-cam, there are lots. If you do glue the book back together, use a pH neutral glue--itll be better for the book in the long run. Good luck!
@@antiquebookcollective Thank you sm! I'll go to the craft store some time this week to get some. I know it's probably not valuable, but like the linguist in me wants to preserve it you know
It happens, nothing to worry about. :) ...You didn't hear it from me, but putting them upside down so they can sag back into place could help square things up for you. After that, just stick them onto their sides like I outlined in this video. :)
I work at a book donation warehouse and I seem to be the only one who gets excited when I see books from 1920 and older come down the conveyer. I searched this cause recently I've aquire quite a bushel of antique books from work. Just today I took home 2 books from 1840. They let me take them home because their basically falling apart. I chose to put them in a zip lock storage bag with a paper towel to catch the moisture I'm not sure if that was idea. Idk
1840! That's amazing! :D
Sounds like an awesome, rewarding job. Keep up the good work, saving antique books from the shredder! :)
Interesting idea with your storage, personally, it makes me think about doing the same, but with oxygen absorbers... Ugh! Now I have to test something else out! Hahaha
Thanks for the comment and subscribe! Have a great day, and keep collecting! :)
Sounds fun, I’ve been finding old 1907 and 1889 books at my local goodwill. Just curious where do you work at? And have you tried selling your antique finds?
I too will add paper towel to bags if I need some stray moisture captured :)
Protip: toast bread, make a PB&J with it, wrap it ina paper towel until it cools down a bit, put it in a ziploc bag, and you now have a pb&j that doesnt need refrigerater and will still be BUSSIN 6+ HOURSSSS later 😎 the paper towel keeps it from bein' weird
For entirely different purposes, I've ordered moisturizer absorbing silica packs....I think your method of the paper towels would be even better- more suitable to the geometry of the books 👍👍
Thanks for another great video! I’m just starting my book selling adventure and was given hundreds of free books. None of which were stored properly. Within the mix I’ve found some amazing vintage and antique books. I’ve also bought a few on my own. I’m currently storing them properly but many of them have that musty smell. I’ve wiped them off to get rid of some of the surface dust and dirt, but is there anything else that can be done to mitigate the smell or is it just one of the “joys” of storing antique books? Thanks again for all of the great info!
There are tricks to mitigate old book smell, for one, I'd recommend an air purifier.
Putting the books in an airtight box with an open container of baking soda can help too.
Both methods take some time though. Long term I'd shoot for an air purifier, airpurifieressentials.com is a good site to learn about those. But there will still be some times when baking soda is the best call. :)
Also, that's a really good question, so I'll be sure to make some videos on it in the future! Thanks! :)
@@antiquebookcollective I've heard of the baking soda method, but I have so many musty books I haven't tried it yet. I don't know why, but I never even thought of the air purifier. I'll put one in the room today. Thanks again!!
@@heatherryan8530 Glad to help! :D
I'm a huge fan of air purifiers, trust me, they do WONDERS with books--especially in the long run.
I've got a really nice one made for 1000 square foot rooms and I use that around my books. When it's on low it's able to clear the air in a day or so, and (over time) it reduces book stink.
Again, I'll be making a video on this in the future, since it's such an important thing for us resellers!
Until then, happy selling!
@@antiquebookcollectiveHave you ever used ozone generating machines to de-stink books and/or other items? Using ozone requires a few safety precautions, but otherwise is pretty easy.
What other tips have you heard?
What storage mistakes have you made?
Hello! Really love your advices here. I was always passionate about collecting old stuff and recently, got into collecting antique books! However, I do some question which I’d LOVE any answer. 1) does the stack and keeping in boxes apply to both storing and shipping the books? If yes, does it apply to books in different sort of covers (e.g. leather, paperback..)? 2) I’ve also heard from few websites that cardboard are often “acidic” and could be damaging to antique books, is that really such a big deal and would it actually damage my book? Thanks and Happy New Year! 💙
Thanks for the questions!
So, let me just say right off the bat that I'm not the biggest expert in the world on this--I'm just 24 here! Hahaha That being said, I've done tons of research and have figured things out on my own beyond that. However, you might want to consult a real expert if you want the absolute best advice on storage. I find my stuff is more than good enough, but they might have better tips and tricks.
That being said, here are my answers:
1. Stacking is just if you have a lot of books and very little space. It isn't good to stack your books too high for too long. Try to keep it under a foot or so high of books. :) Keeping books in boxes is just for shipping, boxes are NOT great for storing the books long term because it makes it too hard to check on your books and you can't admire them either! Shelves are the best--just make sure there isn't a leak above your shelves! :)
2. Acidity can and does damage books. Long term it can hurt the covers as well, but that damage is usually most prevalent on pages in books. HOWEVER, acidity does still damage your covers. It will, at the very least, cause discoloration.
Hope that helps! Happy New Year to you too. :)
@@antiquebookcollective Thank you so much!
@@thestupidduckavian985 Yep! :)
We had a leaky roof but weren't aware. It dripped on a chair for months, and the chair got mold. My books were about 3 meters (10 feet) away but were dry. The room's walls don't seem to have mold. I don't see any mold on any book, so I assume they don't have mold? Is there a way to make sure?
Your books almost certainly got some mold spore on them, but there's mold everywhere and books have some spores in them the second they're made. A little mold isn't the end of the world, but it can be negative for people with asthma.
I'm told blacklight can show of mold's iridescence and let you see if it's bad, but ai have yet to actually see that. For me, I just make sure that the books I have stay dry and I always have an air purifier going in the room they are in. It could be wroth using an ozone generator in the room your books are in to kill any mold and spores that might be in there. Personally I would 110% use an ozone generator in there. All of that being said, there are tests you can do for mold, but I don't really worry about doing those myself, I just ensure my books are dry and in a room that's between 35 and 50 percent humidity.
Hope all that helps!
@@antiquebookcollective Thank you. I tested the humidity in the room and it was 44%. Just to be sure I moved all my books to the living room where there is more ventilation and light. You are so knowledgeable and kind for having answered my questions.
@@sophieedel6324 Happy it helped!
I'd highly recommend having a weekend day that you can spend outside and laying your books out in the sun for maybe 4 hours in total. Over exposure to sunlight will sunbleach them, but the UV light of the sun will help sanitize them and lessen your mold risk. :)
i store my books in clear zip lock bags.. please comment .. thank you
I know of a lot of people who store books in plastic. Air tightness is cool for that, for sure.
Personally, I don't want to use that many plastic bags though. It's not entirely necessary when you're able to store your books at the temperatures and humidity I recommended in this video. :)
(In plastic bags heat can still be a problem though, so keep that in mind!)
Hi! Thanks for all your tips! Have you tried/tested storing books in ziplock bags? Would you recommend it?
Glad you liked it!
I have not and will not ever store books in Ziplocks for long term storage because I've seen plastic ruin enough items after being in contact with them for an extended period of time. All of the things I've seen were irreparably damaged or marred due to plastic which does not last forever in any way shape or form.
In short, I don't recommend it and won't be testing it out myself! Hope that helps. :)
@antiquebookcollective Thank you for your reply! Also i wanted to ask you, what do you think about storing comics/books in those anti acid plastic bags? I have seen lots of videos doing this.
@gaku95 I have seen those and seen comics that have been in those bags for 30 to 40 years without issue, which I suppose is pretty good! A lot of my concerns arose because of things like the old PVC coin holders, low grade plastics, and other such ones that people used that broke down and the effect of that ruined, damaged, or marked what they were supposed to protect.
For me, I tend to revert to the old way of things as often as possible because even the "tested" new things aren't tested enough. I want a hundred years of testing if I am working with something a hundred years old because it's tried and true. Might not be the best, but it's a known risk.
That's just me though! :)
How about plastic bins?
I've used them and like them.
My sole gripe with them is that they oftentimes have slanted sides and bumps at the bottoms which aren't always great for keeping your books pristine. (The slanted sides allow them to move around too much when you move them and the bumps and grooves on the bottom can permanently dent the books.)
That being said, there are some great plastic bins out there for books too! I do use them, I'm just selective with which ones I pick up.
When storing your books, remember the rule about laying the books on their cover sides though (or spines, I've done that too).
Anyhows, thanks for the comment and I wish you the best in your book buying (and storing) journey! :)
Would laying the newspapers on squares of cardboard (stacked) be helpful? I'm very uncertain on acidity and oxidation factors, and seem to be surprised by the various red flags out there, so I'm asking to avoid a preventable blunder. TY in advance!
You're a life saver! Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge 😇
Happy to help! :) Hope you have a ton of awesome books to store and love!
I've so far collected 4 books with victorian fashion magazines (from the years 1863, 1872, 1880 and 1893) and some magazines from 1949-1951, I was looking into the best ways of storing them. I'm definitely not going to put them upright, they're quite heavy. They are currently being stored in very basic cardboard boxes with some silica gels to absorb excess moisture (they are all stored separately). But i was looking into acid free archival boxes as many conservators often talk about them. I'm wondering if you have any opinions on them.
First off, that's incredible! Super, super cool finds! :D
The silica gel packets are a good call, for sure. Don't overdo it though, too little moisture in the air can be harmful as well. (Sounds like you're doing it well right now though.)
I don't have any recommendations for archival boxes, sorry. :( However, I'd like to say that you should be careful with plastic boxes to store your books in, if you opt to go that route in the future. Plastic isn't always your best friend if you're going for long term storage. Some plastic breaks down and gets greasy and nasty, some release stuff that permeates and discolors your books, and others do other things.
I just mention that about plastics because I know of quite a few people who use those as their "safe" airtight containers.
Sorry I couldn't answer your question, maybe there's a local museum you could ask?
Happy stacking and collecting though! :D
@@antiquebookcollective yes I've heard plastic can be quite harmful for storing pieces long term so I'm definitely not planning on doing that. I've heard moisture can build up in plastic containers as well. I'll look further into the acid free boxes, in the hopes of making the books last longer. They're in pretty good condition considering their age so they won't fail me anytime soon, but you can never be sure.
@@saywhatnow5507 Good to hear that!
I think you're definitely on the right track. :)
Wood chipper worked great for all the stray logs🤷🏽♂️
Hahaha
Hi If I have a closed wooden bookshelf but sometimes the sunlight hits on the door, is it still safe for the book inside the shelf? I live in a tropical country.
Wood absorbs UV light, which means that you should be safe. Just be sure to check things for mold since you probably have a lot of humidity. :)
@@antiquebookcollective thanks for the reply! i spend the night researching and found your youtube videos since my old book stored in the wooden cabinet mentioned was getting more yellow patches in the page. and its been the longest drought season here. :')
@@machamacaroon9591 It could be a humidity thing, or your books might even be roasting in there like an oven when the sun is on them, so I'd recommend buying a humidity sensor to see how wet it is in there and some of those, even the super cheap ones, can have thermometers, so you can figure that out as well. Could get you some answers!
If nothing else, it could be worth putting a little dish of baking soda in there. That should absorb some moisture and you can see if it helps. :)
@@antiquebookcollective ohh well noted! thank you for all the advices 🙏 im trying the baking soda atm. does it prevent further or reduce the yellow patches?
@@machamacaroon9591 If you're lucky it might stop or slow things, but there's no knowing for sure without the humidity check. It won't reduce them though.
Depending on the age of your books, they're going to yellow no matter what though, it depends on the paper itself to a degree and that's a case by case thing that I won't know.
Good luck!
I got a pocket dictionary that's from the 1930s from my grandmother. Literally all the pages are hanging on by a thread. I want to glue them back to the spine but I know that's a bad idea
You can check out some book binding videos on TH-cam, there are lots. If you do glue the book back together, use a pH neutral glue--itll be better for the book in the long run. Good luck!
@@antiquebookcollective Thank you sm! I'll go to the craft store some time this week to get some. I know it's probably not valuable, but like the linguist in me wants to preserve it you know
@@pedanticseal4725 I totally understand. Good luck!
Just checked my books and they are sagging. Crap.
It happens, nothing to worry about. :)
...You didn't hear it from me, but putting them upside down so they can sag back into place could help square things up for you. After that, just stick them onto their sides like I outlined in this video. :)
Thank you!