Dust Jackets

Do you put clear mylar covers on your dust jackets? If so, which brand do you find is best?

I like the smooth gleam of mylared jackets on my shelves as well the extra protection they provide for the 80% of the books value found there. Brodart seems to be the classic brand but I have always settled for the more plebian Demco :).

I bit the bullet several years ago and put "Brodarts" on all my books with DJ's. Since then, I always put "Brodarts" on books right after I buy them. I usually buy them at a local used book store, and buy whatever brand (Brodart/Demco) they have. I definitely prefer the ones that are split in the middle on the paper backing, rather than the ones that are split at the bottom between the paper and mylar.

Brodart covers here. They're fairly inexpensive on eBay (or were, the last time I bought a bunch of them).

Demco -- same quality, same formats available, and less expensive.

Brodart here, I will have a look at the Demco. But, yes, you should cover your DJ's. It's worth the investment

Brodart here, too. I order archival ones by the roll, online, in whatever 'height dimension' I need, direct from the source. I love it that they're friendly and helpful whether your order one roll -- or a thousand. This year, they even sent me a catalogue!

Sorry--I hate those things and remove them when i get a book with one. That's what the dj is for--to protect the book. Perhaps we will see the day when Brodarts have to be protected--Give me a break!!!

Sorry, I have to disagree Dave. Mylar protects the jackets from phyisical damage. Removing when necessary is always an option. I bet you don't have kids running around your place. Or a wilfe who would just as soon use a book for a coaster. Thumbs up for Brodart.

I agree with #9. DJ's on books can get torn or edge damaged from just being put on and taken off the shelf. The condition of the DJ helps determine the value of the book, so protect the DJ and you protect the book and it's value. And personally, I think they make the DJ look shinier when they are on. It's an additional expense and is not for everyone.

As tedious as I find the condition of DJs to be, there is no doubt it is significant for the modern lit collection N.B. there is an oft-tossed around figure that 80% of a mod. lit. books "value" is bound up in the condition of the DJ...silly, but there you are. Regardless of how you view your library, they *do* offer protection...especially when used as a coaster.

Brodart's prices direct from the company are quite inexpensive. Do note that there are several iteration, most of which boil down to personal preference. One significant difference-for those who are serious about the long-term value/protection of their books-is that Brodart offers an "Archival Quality" sleeve. These are pH neutral and do not included inked branding.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2009/apr/24/earliest-dust-jacket-library - I thought this would be of interest to the group!

12> Wonder if it had a Brodart jacket on it :)

So these Brodart jackets are not permanently affixed to the dust jacket?

14> Correct, they slip on and off easily.

Thank you rudel519. I think I am going to have to look into these.

So I read the guide at Brodart's website but I still am not sure what kind of covers to use. Any recommendations?

Hi Thulean, I usually get them through my local used bookstore. The type they get is what Brodart calls their "Exact Fit Polyester, Fold On" with the center slit. I usually get 10", 12", and 14" sizes and then fold them to fit. Occasionally, when I have a book that is longer than it is tall, I buy the same type off of a roll - the local used bookstore sells that by the foot. Another local used bookstore sells the "Adjustable Polyester, Open Edge", but I really prefer the other style. Hope that helps.

Thank you for the tips. I appreciate it.

(Sort of related)

Anyone feel like weighing in on the best way to protect soft-bound books (I think it's called "in wrappers" in english, right?).

I have a bunch of semi-rare children's books from the early 60's in wrappers and with untrimmed edges, and I'm looking for the best way to protect them.

I missed this thread when it was whizzing by. I buy mylar in 300` rolls from Vernon company. Using my old sewing equipment--cutting board and roller cutter=it is easy to make individual wrappers for books. Started doing this early on when I began cataloging on LT.

We tried all of the brands and styles in the 1990s when I managed an antiquarian bookstore. We settled on Demco Paperfold and Superfold styles. These come on 300 ft rolls in boxes and we only like the kind sealed on one side. I have seen damage to DJs from the way one must fold a center split variety. At home we find that 10,12, and 14 inch sizes cover most books. For the larger books the heavier Superfold variety are best. All books with jackets are covered here.

Often when a book comes in it gets a fresh cover which affords the opportunity to examine all parts of the jacket and book cover. Former library books are a chlasenge because of the propensity to glue the jacket covers to the inside fixed endpapers. Still, even these look 100% better with a fresh cover.

Paperbacks are harder to protect. At the shop we used 3 mil and 5 mil Mylar to make a plastic dust jacket for special books. To give an idea of the cost of materials and labor, we charged $3 and $5 to cover books for collectors.

James

I ordered rolls of mylar designed for books at Vernon Library supply. The product is easy to apply and can be removed as others have indicated. I was surprised how quickly I used a whole roll. Actually, I have three sizes which will fit most books.

I tried Demco and they were ok, but I've gone back to Brodart. I agree with Keeline -- I don't like the center split kind.

Likewise, more often than not when I buy a book that's been mylar jacketed already I discard the dealer's jacket and put on my own, as I like them just so. I don't have the energy to mylar all my jackets but I do a fair number, anything actually collectible or that really needs one, aesthetically or sentimentally...

I use the 10 Inch Rolls of Brodart Sleeves. This covers most standard hardcovers. I used to buy packs of 10 but sleeves but figured out the rolls were much better value.

Also Brodart have 20% of sales fairly regularly if you are on their web mailing list.

I don't like the one design they have with the perforated folds at the top I prefer to do my own folding to size.

Yes, the perforations are almost never exactly where the should be. Since it is not generally possible to fold between the perforations, I tend to fold with the next shortest perf.

James

I have a used bookstore that I go to about once a month and they Brodart my books relatively inexpensively and much more quickly than I can do it; meanwhile, while they Brodart, I shop for more books :)

Excellent. The sign of a good bookseller.

When I sell Hardcovers (in my capacity as book dealer) I almost always Brodart them prior to selling them. I generally believe that every book is collectible to someone, and therefore they deserve respect. In the case of Fine copies it helps keep them that way, and for beat up copies, they're finally getting some tlc from someone, and I'm sure the buyers appreciate it (I know I always do when someone has made the effort).

At a booksale I recently picked up several Marvin Kaye anthologies of weird/horror stuff for my personal collection, most with Gorey covers. The books had not been looked after and stored poorly, but I Brodarted them, and they are now getting looked after properly.

I have been accumulating books since I was very young and love them, but it is only recently that I have begun to take book collecting seriously. I started asking bookstores how I should protect my books. I was thinking more about temperature and humidity but the first suggestion was mylar covers over the dust jacket. I learned that the DJ actually adds to the value of the book.

I have started to cover all my hard cover books with DJ, even the ones that are ripped because I have had them 30+ years and they were mailed across the country several time and did not get the care they deserved. They have a history with our family and so I will always keep them. As I learn I am taking better care of the books.

I am getting ready to build bookshelves into the wall and when someone pointed out that direct sunlight will fad a book it changed where I am going to build the bookshelves in one of the rooms.

I have also come to prefer hardcover books, although some of the series I enjoy only come in paperback and so I buy them as well but have not found an acceptable way to cover them.

All books here with jackets are covered. If we put them on, they are Demco Paperfold or Superfold per my preference after comparing several styles available.

If a book comes in with an old, dull, or poorly fitted jacket protector, we put on a new one and it is amazing how much nicer they look and feel as a result.

When we bought copies of our Lulu.com print on demand copies of Edward Stratemeyer books to offer at a book fair recently, we covered all of them even though they were brand-new items. We wanted to keep them that way. I know from past and recent experience how even the tiniest blemish can make a book seem less or undesirable.

When we bought the large coffee table version of The Illustrated Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy we went through all of the copies in the bookstore to find one that was as nice as possible. It would be nice if that publisher had shrinkwrapped them to protect the silvery hologram jacket and the bookstore could have opened just one as a sample. Unprotected, they were prone to scratches and spine creases.

Of course, after going through all of that care to select such an item, it is painful to see how they are mishandled by the cashiers trying to deactivate the anti-theft RFID devices by rubbing them back and forth or peeling back the paperback cover to get to the ISBN-13 barcode.

On early jackets or books that are significant, the presence of the jacket can mean a great deal to the value. The most extreme example I can think of is Tarzan of the Apes as a first printing published by A.C. McClurg. A very good (8/10) copy without a jacket has sold for US$2,000.00. Copies with VG dust jackets (also by McClurg) have sold for US$50,00.00. Hence, in that case, the jacket represents $48,000 or the $50,000 or 96%.

Some books are unsellable without a jacket. This is especially true of findable books such as many modern first printings.

Jackets are worth protecting. In decades past there was advice given by decorators to remove jackets since the fragile paper items were hard to care for and keep nice. Of course, some of these same people thought that the best way to shelve books was to do so by size and color, regardless the content, for the aesthetic appeal.

James

> 30 -- No jab you intended, Keeline. When I read yours about some yutzes who shelve by size and color, it just came to me that Nazis come in all shapes and sizes. Racist book collectors, anyone? Blue ones on top, red ones on the bottom, black ones to the bins in the back. . . . etc.

Sorry to revive this old thread!
I see that nobody has mentioned Kapco Easy Jackets so far. This is what I use for all my dust jacket protection now. I own a roll of Brodart jacket protection with paper-lining, but it has been unused since I tried Kapco.

>32 booksforreading:
According to the Youtube demo the final step is taping the jacket to the book! No.....

>33 Crypto-Willobie:
No way.
Do not watch these youtube demos :)
I would NEVER tape the jackets to the book or protective covers to the jacket.
The easy jacket covers actually stay on jackets nicely without any glues or tapes, and they can be removed easily. I am not pushing anyone to use them - just want to suggest another easy and safe option.

>34 booksforreading:
OK.
but one thing the paper does is provide support for damaged jackets in a way plastic-only doesn't.

>35 Crypto-Willobie:
This is true.

Paper backings on the protectors are good. I use the Demco SuperFold and PaperFold (10 inches x 300 inches on rolls). The SuperFold is heavier for fragile jackets or ones where you want the whole to feel substantial.

I’ve looked at some videos an none follow my technique exactly. I agreethat tape should never touch the vintage paper. Rarely I will attach Scoth MagicTape to hold the plastic of the protector to its paper backing. It is usually not necessary. Tape is very hard, if not impossible, to remove. But the jacket protector can be replaced when needed. I replace many as books come in where the plastic is scuffed, etc. or a poor quality or bad style was used.

For books in slipcases, it is sometimes necessary to use a protector without a paper backing.

James

>36 booksforreading: The paper backing will also protect the cover of the book if the jacket is made of acidic paper. Some older jackets can be highly acidic and will spot the book's cover.

>38 Bernarrd:
This is a good point. I have not thought about it, and it makes sense.
For recent and new books, though, using dust jacket protectors without paper lining should be acceptable, and will save a space for one extra book on each shelf.

>39 booksforreading: If the cumulation of paper backing from jacket protectors allows one more book on your shelf, you have some very thin books or very long shelves. :)

James

>40 Keeline:
:)
Actually, it is hard to believe, but 10-15-20 books with paper-backed jacket protectors take just enough extra space to make it impossible to fit another similar-sized book on the same shelf. (It does not mean that they take the entire space of a book - just enough to make it impossible.) The same books without paper lining, allow for surprisingly more shelf space to fit another book.
My shelf space is a constant puzzle/struggle, and to me one extra book on a shelf makes a difference.

I have just realized that one can make a VERY nice temporary (or permanent) dust jacket with Brodart Adjustable Book Jacket Covers (paper lined)! I am reading the Betrothed in LEC edition, and to protect the book while reading it, I made an excellent dust jacket out of protective cover. It was super fast and easy. If I did not have the original dust jacket that came with the book, and which I removed temporarily while reading the novel (to protect it from wear), I would certainly keep the new dust jacket on the book for ever. And, yes, the original jacket is protected, but, somehow, it is not as comfortable to read with it as with the new jacket I made.
The paper lining of the jacket touches the book, and the film layer protects the book on the outside. Perfect. :)
I recommend this for all books that you feel need protection of dust jackets.

>42 booksforreading: Two thumbs up!

Can anyone recommend a good store buy any of the brands mentioned in Canada?

>44 AndrewL:
Do you mean a physical store in Canada or online shops?

either. I've only come across 3 online stores - one site was down while they fixed something, one had a min $200 order and the last one was on amazon and was charging $30 shipping on a $30 order.

I've been to most of my local 2nd hand (and new) bookstores, and none of them have any and they all said they no longer use this method of protecting books.

>46 AndrewL: I'd say www.brodart.ca for online shopping. They may be experiencing technical problems right now, however.