Handling and Displaying Rare Books

The greatest threat to rare books is not time but mishandling. A book that survived two hundred years can be damaged in a moment of carelessness. These guidelines apply equally to a £500 first edition and a £500,000 Kelmscott Press.

Handling

Always work with clean, dry hands. Contrary to popular belief, cotton gloves are generally not recommended for handling books — they reduce dexterity and increase the risk of catching pages. Clean hands provide better control.

Support the book from beneath when moving it. Never pull a book from the shelf by the headcap (the top of the spine). Instead, push the adjacent volumes back and grip the book by its boards.

Display

If displaying an open book, use a book cradle that supports the boards at an angle no greater than 120 degrees. Never force a book flat — this strains the binding and can crack the spine.

Rotate displayed books every three months to prevent uneven light exposure. Even indirect daylight causes cumulative fading.

Environment

Maintain stable conditions:

• Temperature: 16–19°C (avoid fluctuations)
• Relative humidity: 45–55%
• Light: below 50 lux for displayed items
• Air quality: away from kitchens, bathrooms, and external walls

Transport

For transit, wrap each book individually in acid-free tissue, then in bubble wrap. Place books flat in boxes, spine down, with padding to prevent movement. Never ship books standing upright — vibration during transit causes the text block to slump.

Storage

Store books upright on shelves sized appropriately — oversized books should lie flat. Avoid overpacking shelves (causes abrasion) and underpacking (causes leaning and warping). Use acid-free bookends rather than leaning books against each other.