I will pass on a remedy that was recommended on this board for removing mildew from a book. I haven't tried it yet, and I don't know if it works, but it might be worth a try. Mix 1 part vinegar with three parts water and treat book, but do not dampen book excessively (so that book won't show signs of water damage). I plan to try this myself, and will let you know how it works. Allow book to dry thoroughly.

Hi had some books a bit back and they had magic marker on the front used hair spray to remove this was on paperbacks.And have used hair spray to remove other marks.try it on a book you are going to trash first

Update on experiment using vinegar to remove mildew smell from book. I tried using straight vinegar applied to the top of the spine and some of the alleys of the pages and the cover, and it didn't seem to work. I only gave it 2 days. Maybe it works if you wait longer or if you seal the book in a plastic bag.

I think I'll try yours, finnius, and also my own pet idea of soaking something in straight chloride bleach and sealing that with the book in a plastic bag for a week or so.

Regarding the destinkification of stinking books:

I've known dealers who swear they can kill a smell by first freezing a book, then putting the book in a mesh bag, open about half-way, and hanging the bag outside on a shaded clothes line for a few days. This I've never tried.

Another dealer told me her "secret" which at least sounds good: she filled the bottom of a wooden crate, about three feet on a side, with a layer of charcoal, except for a pedestal large enough to support a few reclining, half-opened books and a box or two of baking soda. She would close the lid of the crate, sealing the books inside for several days. On opposite sides of the exterior of the crate she had mounted bathroom exhaust fans, louvered (naturally), one to pump air into the chamber and one to exhaust air from the chamber. She'd set a timer so the fans would run for half an hour, rest for two hours, run another half hour ... like that for two days. She swore that when books were de-chambered, they were odor-free. I've not tried that either.

My personal secret is to avoid stinky books altogether.

From book-ends on a similar post:

koolkidz the absolute best item for sprucing up books is a soft eraser used carefully. After that would be my old standby lighter fluid to remove any stickers or tape. There are some commercial products (goo-gone, etc) that'll do the same thing. And there are commercial cleaners (Brodart makes at least one) that can be used dry to clean soil off paper and cloth. For a leather binding careful use of neetsfoot oil might help. Beyond that and you're out of my area of do-it-yourself.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

wabbitt15 (506) (view author's auctions)
6:18pm September 20, 2002 (# 2 of 5)

The trade generally accepts "cosmetic enhancements" to the extent that they do not adversely interfere with the original attributes of the book as originally issued.

Most allow for retail sticker removal (but a call is necessary for any glue residue); A call is indicated for erasures of pencil underlinings or marginalia (never attempt an erasure on coated paper); A call is indicated for mending cracked hinges; A call is indicated for tape removal that results in residue or ghosts to covers or pastedowns; A call is indicated for mends to DJs; A call is indicated for cleaning of a cloth cover when the resulting effect is inconsistent to all of the bindings; A call is indicated for mending pages of the book block; Never disguise an even minor fault or an ownership inscription with a bookplate; A call is indicated for the removal of the celluoid film that frequently covers books (i.e., some children's issues, many MM paperbacks).

Basically, then, return the dog-ears to a flat position, remove the sticker from the book or the DJ (that are great fluids for that), or perhaps very carefully reglue/repaste a loose label to place. Otherwise, efforts to improve can be timely and not worth a lesser book, and for thje more valuable property pay to have a professional facelift (and that would still be subject the appropriate calls).

Basically, then, return dog-ears to a flat position

To mend or not to mend?
barbaradawn (90) (view author's auctions)
10:27am September 27, 2002

We have a humngous 1500+ page reference book that has two pages torn in half. All the parts are there and have been stuck back in the book. The previous owner tried to tape them together at one time, but they've torn more. Would it be better to let the potential buyer deal with it - pointing it out in the listing, or course?

Or would it be worth it to invest in some archival mending tape and fix it first? I assume there IS an archval mending tape?

I'm wondering - is this the kind of repair a beginner should try? Or is it better left to the experts? It IS a rather simple repair, it seems to me - but I am loath to take the risk of screwing it up.

Thanking you in advance.

Barbaradawn



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

faganbooks (1746) (view author's auctions)
10:58am September 27, 2002 (# 1 of 3)

It is always better to sell as is if you are unsure. Especially when making irreversible repairs, such as with tape.

I would like to add to anyone who reads this to never ever use tape, archival or otherwise, on dust jackets. Rare dust jackets can be expertly repaired and tape is essentailly just more damage to deal with.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

xploman (0) (view author's auctions)
4:10pm September 27, 2002 (# 2 of 3)

Fagan - How about a book that is of moderate value, which is in nice condition with a dust jacket that is "not bad" except for a few long tears? I usually tape those (on the underside of course) before sale. I state that fact in the listing, but the fact that the DJ looks good in the photo seems to help more than the info about the tape hurts. I am talking about books that are not worth a restoration investment. Any comment?

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

faganbooks (1746) (view author's auctions)
4:29pm September 27, 2002 (# 3 of 3)

For that, I suppose it is okay. I personally prefer to use a mylar wrapper. If you don't use good archival tape, the tape will make the repair uglier than the tear ever was. Turns all brown and crappy.

faganbooks- Books deteriorate. Given. Some more than others, to be sure. So do water pumps in cars. Unlike the replacement of water-pumps in cars, books need either coddling or to be LEFT ALONE. Confronted with a scary book of obvious importance, I leave it alone!