Posted 8 years ago
MarionBarb…
(1 item)
Was bought over 50 years ago at a flea market in London. Was taken to the U.S. and came to Germany as an inheritance , 20 years ago.
Very old (1661) and falling apart, what should I do with it? | ||
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Looks to be more stable than you think. Don't 'thumb through it' like you would a modern book. The pages and binding will now be very fragile, as they've opened and closed so many times-- like a tree, bending in the wind. It resists for some time, before one day snapping.
Don't let it get too dry, but definitely keep it out of humidity. Do not ever wrap them in plastic. Not only will the plastic keep in moisture, but it may contain unstable compounds that will leach on and into the book, wreaking havoc with chemical stability. Plastic destroys books.
Do not let it remain exposed to light.
As you're asking what to do with it, not how to save it, I assume you're not terribly interested in it. You may try having an auction sell it. An English or American auction would be best, for an English book. It sounds like you're in Germany, so I'd see what an English auction-house may value it at.
SpiritBear,
thank you so much for your valued comment and for taking the time!
Greetings from Munich, Germany
My pleasure.
Greetings from Muskegon, Michigan, U.S.A.