Salome' gold coming off

Salome' DLE:
Actually this is a packaging error, I believe. Unfortunately I waited too long to open this book and found that the full package was shrink-wrapped and inside that the two volumes were shrink-wrapped together which put a lot of pressure on the two books, causing the gold from the red volume to stick to the black volume. I wrote EP and Maryanne answered offering to accept the book back but unfortunately they had no more copies. Since I really wanted this volume(s) I asked for a discount in order to keep the book. Thy offered me a $40 refund, about 10%. I accepted their offer. I might have gotten more if I pressed but I was satisfied. However I did explain the problem and suggested they never wrap leather books together again; one can only hope!

Has anyone else had a problem with this product?

>1 Frank_Zwolinski: Mine did stick together a bit but no transference. I'm glad because the Limited Editions Club original is really a wonder. The main problem it had was that the French volume, copying the style of many French books had a paper binding which didn't hold up well. Based on what I've seen, this set is one of the closest ever to duplicating the appearance of the LEC original.

>1 Frank_Zwolinski: I tried to get a discount on a badly flawed book (Night DLE) which was OPP, and they offered me only 10% too; I declined.

Regarding books sticking together I noticed the Count of Monte Cristo and Les Miserables DLEs stuck together probably due to the laminated illustration on the front of each book. It was serious enough for me to assure there was a separation between each book when placed on the bookshelf.

>3 HugoDumas: different experience here. My count ep dle volumes do not stick together. May be difference in humidity? We have whole house humidifier which probably helps

So does anyone use felt between their books on the case as protection against sticking. Do we know if felt would be OK over many years if pressed against these books?

>4 fancythings: I had the first printing, while you are on the third printing. Perhaps they changed the chemicals used to laminate the illustrations?

>5 sdawson: we discussed this in earlier posts. I originally used 24lb paper between the books and suggested thicker card stock, though others suggested one should use acid free card Stock if available. Your suggestion for felt is also good, given the value of these books. I suspect some of these books with gold designs superficially printed on the cover or back rather than deeply embossed are candidates for gilt loss over time. And as a reminder, all thick books are guaranteed to lose gilt on bottom of book over time; thus I protect mine with custom book braces. I use poster board, while some use felt.

>6 HugoDumas: I have the first initial printing of the Count. My parents purchased it as soon as it was released by EP years ago.

>7 fancythings: correction, I was thinking of Hunchback which I believe you just got. Nevertheless mine had an alarming stickiness which I simply had to fix before they were ruined.

>8 HugoDumas: as far as I can remember you sold it. I might be wrong. I probably wrong since you love your routledge, heavily illustrated editions that mostly thing of the past now and hard to get

Yes, we purchased Hunchback as soon as it was rereleased by ep. gorgeous 2 vol also nicely illustrated. Visited Frankestein museum in Lake George NY last summer and they had a scene from Hunchback. Pretty cool

>5 sdawson: Hi, I have always used felt between my leather books; in the case of Salome' there is not sufficient room in the slipcase so I just use a piece of acid free archival paper between the two volumes. Hopefully this will stop any further transferance of the gold ink.

thank you Hugo and Frank

I guess I’ll chime in here.

In my experience when I first started collecting EP (now close to 30 yrs) I didn’t have much shelf space and I’d cram as many together as could fit on my shelves and then I started noticing some sticking. After finding that out and having more space now I don’t do that anymore and don’t have that issue anymore.

The other important thing that I can’t stress enough is humidity control during the summer. I’m obsessive about that. It also keeps my baseball card collection well 😁😁

Quite a few of my DLE’s are too tall even for my large bookcases so I have to lay them on their sides. That being said I did start to notice my History of the Crusades 2 Vol DLE stuck together once but I was able to use a hair dryer and warm them up a bit (crazy idea from my wife) and they came apart with no damage. Crazy - IKR 🥸🥸

So nowadays I use a pice of paper between the ones that I have to lay on their side and it’s worked great so far. It is important to go through your books every now and then (especially those of us that have a lot of books and as a result they can sit for some time without being moved) and just pull them out, look at them and put them back on the shelf. Even if just for a second.

That is all...