Books look better without dust jacket

Dust jackets provide the vast majority of books published today with their only color and art. Booksellers, thornhill, on, canada and jeff coopman, the usual suspects, st. Mar 14, 2020 a dust jacket, also known as a dust cover or book cover, protects a book s case from wear. Protecting your books should be high on your list of priorities if you are a book lover or intend to keep your book for a long period of time. Look on rarebook sites like, and you will see how much, say, a signed. The matte soft cover finish is less reflective than gloss, giving a more natural look to cover art. The very first dust jackets or dust wrappers appeared in 1832 with the sole purpose of protecting books during transport between the printer and the bookstore. If you look at books around your house youll find a mixture of possibilities. Anyone ever noticed that hard cover books look better without.

With the recent discovery of some salient information, today, most of the large. The valuable rare book dust jacket by the bookworm on february 26, 2012 art of the book, modern firsts a modern first editions value is very much dependant on its dust jacket dust wrapper or dust cover. How to make distressed leatherwrapped books make brand new books look like old leatherbound tomes by covering them in a removable leather jacket that youve distressed and antiqued. I personally prefer how the books look on the shelf without the dustjacket, especially when you have multiple colors in your. I think they look better without the dust jacket when used for that purpose. A less shiny cover absorbs more small scratches and scuffs without looking beat up. The dust jackets themselves were worthless and the plain paper was discarded when the books were unwrapped for display in bookstores. This same job is done by the paper covers on softbound books. Theyll add a timeworn touch to your bookcase and make great handmade gifts for literary friends. But the repairs you do undertake will make your books look better and last longer, just like the split seam well sewn preserves your favorite tweed jacket. So i removed all the paper jackets and threw them away. For modern book collectors, the condition of the dust jacket in some cases is 7080% of the value of the book.

If you dont take the jacket off this book, youd never realize that is reversible. Book talk anyone ever noticed that hard cover books look better without paper jacket. One thing dust jackets do very well is protect spinescovers from fading, which will happen over time if a shelf is exposed to sunlight. Book received with no dustjacket general selling on amazon.

You can choose a cheaper hardcover without a dust jacket but with any colour image printed on it. I have maybe 5060 books that are without a dust jacket and i am at a loss over what to do with them. Without their artistic or commercial dust jackets they would look very bland. More serious damage from insects, acid, or damp is difficult but not impossible to. Facsimile dust jackets llc is the sole funding for mark terrys dust jacket archive project. I have collections of books by the same author that i list on ebay, so i could pair the books together by author and list these books with the others as well. That way, the jackets dont get ruined, and my books look good. Books may contain a remainder mark on an outside edge, but this should be noted in the listing comments. The only reasons i can really see for the existence of dust jackets on kids books are aesthetic reasons. My goal is to scan and archive images of as many vintage dust jackets as i can. Those who love old books are all too aware that the original dust jacket. If you are vacuuming a particularly old or fragile book, consider placing a piece of cheesecloth between the vacuum hose and attachment to reduce suction. An emphasis on the printed book as an object a beautiful and special. Oct 07, 2008 the covers have fallen off our curious george books and the dust jackets of other books have seen much better days.

Its not like i spend my time doing more with the cover than glancing at it if ive bought the book, so it doesnt bother me to take it off. You might be better off finding an exlibrary copy, cleaning up the dust jacket, and then selling or donating the library copy of the book and keeping your better condition copy. Jun 21, 2014 the more dust jackets and books you handle, the more easily youll be able to identify newer paper versus old, just by touch. This article is the second in a series in which al navis examines the wonderfully confusing, highly addictive world of first edition books.

From abstract design to detailed illustrations, enjoy these gorgeous vintage dust jackets. My stack of flower books looks better with flowers on the cover than the brown, green, gray, and blue cloth covers alone. The conventional wisdom among booksellers is first edition dr. Kids books have such fun dust jackets that im trying to figure out a cute and easy way to display some of our favorites. A coffee spill is more likely to run off a glossy dust jacket than a matte one. During a recent visit to my favorite used book store, the brattle book shop, i stumbled across a book that i thought would make a great gift for a friend of mine, who will soon be moving out to chicago to start work on a ph. The wear you see on a dust jacket is the wear you would see on a book s covers if it did not have a jacket. Anyone ever noticed that hard cover books look better without paper. If you take the paper jacket off of a hard cover it always looks better. Mar 03, 2016 designed a dust jacket for the book to kill a mockingbird by harper lee. The jacket, which sets the mood for the book, or positions it within its genre, or provides hardhitting sales copy, both complements and promotes the book. There is a horrific reason long story behind the shrink wrapping part, but they look new a beautiful on my shelves.

I use these books for pictures of my children and they love looking in them but sadly have a tendency to bust up the dust cover. So to be able to order a fresh set of dust covers so that the books look good again on the coffee table would be so appreciated. I slipped each book from its jacket, feeling more energized each time. Tolkien when considering the purchase of a book for your collection, the condition and, if applicable, the dust jacket are the most important factors affecting the value. Dont hate on the dust jacket some people would like to get rid of dust jackets those glossy outer covers of hardcover books. Remove the book s dust jacket before vacuuming and always turn your book upside down so dust doesnt make its way into the pages. Every hardcover that comes into my possession is desecrated, almost immediately, insofar as i automatically remove the dust jacket and often transport it directly to the trash. When you read a book without the cover, it might be more comfortable in your hands, but the oils and grime and dirt and slime from your skin are getting all over that poor books cloth. All pages and the cover are intact, including the dust jacket, if applicable. Why you should read every hardcover with the book jacket. The covers make the book interesting before you open it. Those who love old books are all too aware that the original dust jacket is often missing. Apr 08, 2008 covering hardback books without dust jackets. This selection ranges from 1917 to 1969, and really is just a drop in the bucket.

Are you supposed to read a hardcover book with the. Covering hardback books without dust jackets youtube. If it is not a classic, i will take it off while reading, then put it back on when read and then shelved. Sometimes the book without the jacket is bland looking and not very appealing. My experiences printing a small batch of books marcin. With frequent usage and toting about, your favorite books may become dirty, dusty, or even stained. What makes these books so unusuallooking is that, even though theyre hardcovers, their cover art is not printed on dust jackets but instead. Why you should read every hardcover with the book jacket off. The only way to receive a dust jacket is to select the hardcover, dust jacket option for your book order during checkout. Kandice mccallum, aka lady bluestocking, makes facsimile reproductions and custom dust jackets for vintage books. Bibliophiles know that a good dust jacket will help protect their precious books from the ravages of sun and shelf wear. Does anyone else dislikeget really irritated by dust jackets.

Seek advice regarding archival cover for hardcover books without dust jackets. Without their jackets, most books are visually dull. Many people strip off these jackets and throw them away. The modern glossy dust jacket seems to protect books better than the older ones. The velvety texture of the finish makes for a pleasant tactile experience. In addition to its promotional role, the dust jacket protects the book covers from damage. What did the poor dust jacket ever do to deserve such scorn. I usually just throw it in a drawer while im reading a book and then put it back on when i go to put the book on a shelf. A dust jacket, also known as a dust cover or book cover, protects a books case from wear. And now, id like to take a brief moment to talk about dust jackets and, specifically, the role of dust jackets on childrens books. The reasoning behind book dust jacket while there is a hardcover. A brief history of the dust jacket books tell you why, inc. No books all jackets state facsimile dust jackets l.

The importance of dust jackets used books and rare books. Get the best deals on books with dust jacket when you shop the largest online. Once intended to be temporary and disposable protection for beautifully bound books, dust jackets have becomein some waysmore valuable than the books they protect. Seuss books cannot be identified without the dust jacket. If you use a regular duster, hold the book tightly shut. Dustjacket protectors are the best option to protect your dustjackets from the. I would love if i was able to order new dust covers for the books i have already bought.

While its best to take antique or overly fragile books to conservationists for cleaning and preservation, you can. Indeed, for modern first editions, a book without the dust jacket will sell for only a fraction of the price. The dust jacket is made from paper with two flaps that fit over the front and back covers, wrapping around the spine to encase the entire cover. Dust, mild stains, and pencil marks are fairly easy to remove. The valuable rare book dust jacket rare books digest. Dust jackets are so important that sometimes an essentially worthless book can be valuable because of its dust jacket. It is in the way when i read, but to throw it away would feel kind of like throwing away the book itself. Another tactic used by unscrupulous sellers is to marry a second edition dust jacket in the case where its identical to a first edition dust jacket to a book club edition thats otherwise difficult to distinguish from the first trade edition. Pages are clean and not marred by notes or folds of any kind. Old books are a charming link to the past, but quite a fragile one.

Free book jacket layout template for diy selfpublishers by joel friedlander on december 15, 2010 19 comments one of the most challenging tasks for a doityourself selfpublisher is laying out a dust jacket for a hardcover book. I have bought a few repro covers from mark terry in the past but there are always inevitably some that he doesnt have, and i have pondered. The dust jacket sometimes book jacket, dust wrapper or dust cover of a book is the detachable outer cover, usually made of paper and printed with text and illustrations this outer cover has folded flaps that hold it to the front and back book cove. Follow this simple process to protect and maintain your books without breaking the bank buying professional book. A soft dust brush vacuum attachment, a soft cloth, dry cleaning pad, white plastic eraser and glass cleaner are the only materials needed for cleaning old books with hard, leather and dust jacket covers. This is just a process video, and definitely not a tutorial by any means, as i would not recommend you do things like this. This is just a process video, and definitely not a tutorial by any means. A guide to book conditions the hobbit first edition by j.

A fine book approaches the condition of as new, but without being crisp. However, since it is itself relatively fragile, and since dust jackets have practical, aesthetic and sometimes financial value, the jacket may in turn be wrapped in another jacket, usually transparent, especially if the book. The book looks so much better without one, and theyre so annoying to keep nice. New listing lot 3 books science fantasy wizards in. Did you receive a book, expecting a dust jacket, but it came without one. Designed a dust jacket for the book to kill a mockingbird by harper lee. Spread out the dust jacket on the protective covering to measure how much covering you will need. Book dust jackets are essential to ensuring a books longevity. I take it off when reading, put it in a safe place and put it back on when done. A deep dive into the history of the illustrated book jacket, tracing its development across the twentieth century. Sometimes the covers are partly cloth and part paper. For instance, bookseller raptis rare books lists features. Moreover, plenty of words name objects without accurately describing that objects function.

What exactly is the value of dust jackets on kids books. Carefully hold the book to make sure there arent any marked, tears, creases etc. Ive started this post several times before, but ive always found myself paralyzed with the fear that this minirant would turn into a. The illustrated dust jacket, 19201970 salisbury, martin on. Im a big fan of book design, so, if the designer has a really compelling, visually engaging vision for the dust jacket, i can kind of get onboard with that. Identifying, and valuing first edition dr seuss books. Seek advice regarding archival cover for hardcover books. I am not going to list them on amazon because there is no profit margin for them at all. Jan 14, 2010 sometimes the covers are partly cloth and part paper. The dust jacket is part of the book and it would be incomplete without it.

Recently i discovered a way to protect our home library using the same materials that the public libraries do. Dust jackets and how to keep dust off of them by james dawson the dust jacket is the paper cover that wraps around a book to protect it. If it is not a classic, i will take it off while reading, then put it back on when read and then. Generally, books in good condition are not considered to be collectible grade. The dust jacket makes the book look more puttogether and dressed in my mind my toddler immediately removes the dust jackets from her books and tries to with mine. By removing the dust jacket whether to read or store the book, youre removing the purpose and personality and collectibility of the jacket, most of which has been stated above. How to protect and secure a dust jacket no tape, no slippage duration.

Many concerned booksellers have written encouraging an edit to this article, so we will share it here without changing the text above. In light of the skills ive learned this summer, i decided to offer my services in repairing the dust jacket. Some hardcovers are issued without dust jackets, especially scholarly books. As most collectors are aware, a dust jacket in fine condition can greatly enhance the value of a book. Clothcovered books that are aging must be handled with extreme care, and cleaning them can be more challenging. If you come across a book with a very damaged dust jacket, is it better to throw away the dust jacket and list it without or keep it. A brief history of the dust jacket book collecting guide. Free book jacket layout template for diy selfpublishers. Scholarly books can receive heavy use by graduate students and researchers and the dust jackets get torn very quickly. Jan 06, 2009 that way, the jackets dont get ruined, and my books look good. The book may have been opened and read, but there are no defects to the book, jacket or pages. Comments are turned off autoplay when autoplay is enabled, a suggested video will automatically play next. A book club dust jacket without a price may have been clipped to mislead a buyer. Now, i prefer the look of my books without them, but only when theyre on my personal home bookshelves.

We scoured our vast selection of vintage books for the most beautiful dust jackets, and soon discovered that selecting just 30 was a nearly impossible task. Rare book collectors look for authenticity and minimal wear, tears, stains, cuts or writing inside or outside the dust jacket dust wrapper or dust cover. I purchased dust jacket covers for hard cover books and rediroll covers for paperbacks at vernon library supply. As publishing evolved, the dust jacket became more decorative in nature rather than protective. Since they dont do anything very useful, a new fashion for going without wrappers is likely to catch on.

As with toy collecting, where the box the toy came in is worth more than the toy itself, a nice dust jacket. The worst is when a large book without a dust jacket is shelved next to a smaller book for a long time, so that theres a rectangular area on the front or back thats a. And if the book gets beat up, the dust jacket covers that up. The case includes the front and back covers along with the spine. Use of a facsimile jacket or a restored jacket without a detail. If it is a classic, i will typically throw it away so i can use the actually book for decoration. If its not paperback, dust jacket stays on while i read the book. I like the way it looks, but its also usually because the dust jacket is in lousy shape or doesnt fit the book right. Plus, the book on the shelf looks better in a dust jacket. Seek advice regarding archival cover for hardcover books without dust jackets book care and repair. Im obsessed with how the jacketless books look on the shelf. The list below is a starting point and allows for mix and matching and, you dont have to put all of these on your cover. A book without the original dustjacket doesnt become a book with. Book jackets are bad and you cant convince me otherwise.

Feb 06, 2017 the dust jacket makes the book look more puttogether and dressed in my mind my toddler immediately removes the dust jackets from her books and tries to with mine. Authors, designers and consumers are enamored with the look and feel of matte lamination. Jul 12, 2018 book dust jackets are essential to ensuring a book s longevity. Aug 18, 2011 why you should read every hardcover with the book jacket off. There are poorly written books which have beautiful dust jackets and are collectible solely because of the jacket. Theyre always sliding off, or arent in the right position when i go to close the book, or they fall off one side and just hang there flopping around. Get the best deals on books with dust jacket when you shop the largest online selection at. And i cant imagine the cost of printing a single dust jacket on thick enough glossy paper would be very economical. Books feels better in your hands when that jacket isn.

The more dust jackets and books you handle, the more easily youll be able to identify newer paper versus old, just by touch. Seeing the book covers art helps to identify the book for future reference. Its important to note that reputable dealers will be up front with you about whether a dust jacket is a facsimileand many of them wont even sell books with facsimile jackets. What to do with book jackets reluctant entertainer. Dust jackets were originally developed as a protective covering for books with fancy bindings. Anyone ever noticed that hard cover books look better. The dust jacket is made from paper with two flaps that fit over the front and back covers, wrapping around. What do you do with the dust jacket from a hardcover book.

But doing so would be terrible for casual book readers. Dust jacket, if applicable, shows signs of some rubbing or chipping. The hardcover books look much nicer without the dust jackets, but right. If you take the paper jacket off of a hard cover it. Properly applied, they add to the looks of the book but most importantly. Price clippedthe price has been clipped from the corner of the dust jacket. Nov 15, 2014 i leave the jackets on if they make the book look better. Publishers dont bother with jackets for those books.