Archival dust jacket protection: recommendations?

[buzz]

In the hopes there are some librarians or book collectors around here...

I've currently got two old RPG books with dust jackets that I'd like to protect (RQ2 and The Traveller Book). I've been looking at some library supply sites that sell mylar/plastic covers for dust jackets, but really have no clue what to get.

Anyone with some familiarity in this area want to help me? I don't need a big honkin' roll of the stuff, as these are the only two books I want to protect for the foreseeable future.

Any help is appreciated.

 

[Gilladian]

Don't cover the book jackets with mylar! The mylar covers are meant to go on a physical book (ie a large paperback) to protect the covers. You ruin the collector's value of the DJ when you mylar it (or cover it with anything permanent).

Instead, look for or make yourself a good slip-on paper cover for the book and put the dust jacket away somewhere safe. When you are ready to sell said book as a collectible, replace the paper cover with the dust jacket, and it will be worth something (if the book itself is worth anything).

This advice comes from a librarian with a mother who owned a rare/collectible bookshop for 20 years. Rule of thumb - never do anything that isn't reversible to a potentially valuable item!

 

[Cat Moon]

How to Make a Book Dust Jacket | eHow.com

 

[megamania]

When mentioning Mylar he have meant a Mylar sleave or bag to place the entire book into. Mylar is used by most comicbook collectors. It is UV resistant, low acid (yes...most plastic has an acid that ages paper) and stiff enough to protect it from general handling.

 

[buzz]

When mentioning Mylar he have meant a Mylar sleave or bag to place the entire book into. Mylar is used by most comicbook collectors. It is UV resistant, low acid (yes...most plastic has an acid that ages paper) and stiff enough to protect it from general handling.

Exactly.

Thanks for the responses, though! I had thought this thread was pretty much dead.

 

[bento]

It's been a while since I dropped by this part of ENWorld, so I'm sorry I missed your question until now.

I use Demco's Budget Book Jacket Covers at my work and home. Really you just want something to keep stains off and keep the dust jacket from getting torn, so you don't need to spend a lot of money on fancy mylar. You can pick up these for around $10 for a pack of 50 that will cover 10" tall books.

Here is Demco's guide of all the different types of covers they carry.

BT

 

[buzz]

Thanks, Bento!