We guarantee the authenticity and completeness of all items (unless otherwise described), and are happy to provide a certificate to this effect. All items can be assumed to be in good condition, with any defects being described in our description.
We guarantee the authenticity and completeness of all items (unless otherwise described), and are happy to provide a certificate to this effect. All items can be assumed to be in good condition, with any defects being described in our description.
Here is some basic advice to help keep books in the best possible condition.
Even if you are not an avid collector, these basic precautions are sound habits to ensure a long life for any of the books on your shelves.
Store books on flat, smooth shelves that are strong enough to support their weight.
Books should not come into contact with unsealed wood as it can release damaging vapours.
Place similar size books together upright on a shelf.
It’s important not to pack books too tightly to prevent warping or damage when removing from the shelf.
Use book ends to prevent books falling over.
Dust-jackets should be covered in acid-free book jacket covers.
Do not leave any acidic papers such as newspaper inside the book. It will darken the pages.
Make sure books aren’t stored under plumbing and water pipes. Water damage from these sources is more common than one might think.
Make sure bottom shelves are raised from the floor in case of flooding.
Keep all books in a stable environment.
Excessive heat or high humidity will attract insects and encourage mould growth. Air needs to circulate freely.
Avoid direct sunlight, which will fade leather, cloth and dust jackets.
Always carefully wash and dry your hands before handling books.
Use bookmarks. Do not place open books face down, and definitely do not turn the corner of pages over.
When reading, carefully turn pages and don’t force the covers down flat or even beyond; this can damage, or even break the spine.
Regularly clean bookshelves, even if it’s only once or twice a year.
Don’t eat or drink near books.
While everyday practical tips will avoid unnecessary damage and deterioration, there are some extra protection methods one can adopt to avoid any expensive repairs to a treasured collection.
Regularly clean books with a cloth or a soft brush.
Purchasing a bookshelf with a glass door may help to avoid dust buildup.
For the most valuable books consider custom-made cases to fit the size of each specific book.
Repairs to highly collectable books should only be done by a recommended and highly skilled restorer or book-binder.
We hope this will help you to understand how to handle and take care of books for years to come. When considering the purchase of a book for your collection, the condition and, if applicable, the dust jacket is very important factors affecting the value.This article was written by Dakota Murphey; a content writer and literature enthusiast. Working alongside bespoke library interior designers, Artichoke ltd.
Shapero Rare Books is an internationally renowned dealer in London, specialising in antiquarian & rare books and works on paper, with particular expertise in fine illustrated books from the 15th to the 20th century, travel & voyages, natural history, modern firsts, rare children’s books, guidebooks, Hebraica & Judaica, Eastern European, and Islamica.
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The second title in the "Blofeld trilogy", preceded by Thunderball (1961) and concluding with You Only Live Twice (1964). In the novel Bond adopts...
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The ninth James Bond book by Ian Fleming, also memorable as a film version with Sean Connery featuring a theme tune sung by Tom Jones.First editio...
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First edition of Shute's chilling dystopian novel, the basis for the 1959 film starring Gregory Peck, Ava Gardner, Fred Astaire, and Anthony Perki...
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First edition of Tom Stoppard's first play, a development on the story of two of the minor characters from Shakespeare's Hamlet. The National Thea...
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Inscribed and dated by the author. The inscription from Beatrix Potter reads; 'Beatrix Potter, Castle Cottage, Sawrey, Nov 22. 40'; the gift inscri...
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An unusual and amusing album of period pencil and watercolour plates. The numerous plates depict furniture, street scenes including protests with ...
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A sweet edition of Mark Twain's classic novel in red calf gilt by Bayntun, with colour-plate and in-text illustrations by Cyril Walter Hodges (190...
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A sweet, illustrated edition of Johann David Wyss' classic novel about a Swiss family shipwrecked in the East Indies en-route to Port Jackson, Aus...
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Aquatint by J.C. Stadler, with original hand-colour.
Mint copy.. Rheinlande was one of the longest series published by Baedeker and had its origins in the modest "Rheinreise" by Professor J. A.Klein, ...
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First issue of a rare Baedeker. "Schweiz" was almost the longest series in German with thirty-nine editions from 1844 to 1937. The early editions i...
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Kipling's famous stories include: How the Whale Got His Throat, How the Camel Got His Hump, How the Rhinoceros Got His Skin, How the Leopard Got H...
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Winner of the 'lost' Booker Prize. The winner of the so-called 'lost' Booker Prize, a special edition of the Booker Prize awarded after a decisive ...
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This is second title in the Harry Potter series, confirming the author's standing alongside J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis. It was nominated for th...
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First edition of this remarkable record of the 1960s 'tune in, turn on, drop out' culture that defined the decade for many, preceding the UK editi...
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Rare Biedermeier edition.. A good example of an early Baedeker edition.This was the last edition to have the title "Rheinreise", following editions...
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One of 1000 copies. One of 1000 copies of Wilde's most celebrated play.First performed on 14th February 1895, The Importance of Being Earnest marke...
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In anticipation of the approaching London Antiquarian book fairs, this May, we are spotlighting rare African exploration works. Featured, are four first editions, with inscriptions linking them to historical figures, enhancing their collectability.
Join us as we journey through time to discover some of the rarest books in the world. The following texts have shown an extraordinary ability to survive, with some books having survived the ravages of flood and fire, and others counting only a single surviving copy.
The public perception of the East India Company, an organisation which was to become one of Britain's most notorious colonial ventures, was mediated by a collective of artists. Diplomatic wrangling, imperial posturing, trade and warfare became the subjects of a significant artistic movement, aimed at depicting and dissecting the Company’s involvement in the political and social life of the period.
The woods and rivers, hills and hollows of fiction constitute some of our earliest and most beloved memories: from the Hundred Acre Wood to the home of Mr. McGregor. Join us this Easter as we travel through the imaginary places and winding roads of children’s literature.
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