Slipcases - do you really like them ?

I find them a bit of a pain.

1. Granted they protect the books - but most of us take care of our books anyway so how much damage can a book sustain sitting on a shelf without a slipcase ?

2. They are dark and bulky and tend to look dark, heavy and oppressive on a book shelf.

3. They conceal the beauty of the books on the shelf.

4. They scuff and get grubby easily, quickly showing fingerprints which would not happen with the more durable bindings on the books themselves. Before long, instead of displaying beautiful books you are displaying tired looking slipcases.

I know I could store my volumes without the slipcases - but I could never dispose of them and I would have to find somewhere to store them, which is a nuisance. For this reason I store and display the books in their slipcases - but I can't honestly say that I like them.

I love them.

They protect my books.

Every score, scratch and slight that my slipcases have are proof of their utility.

> 2

But my point is that the bindings themselves would not probably get scored and scratched - they are quite durable, especially the buckram bindings. Why have a scratchable thing protect something which is probably not very scratchable when in normal usage ?

I think the utility of the slipcase is limited to when one wants to protect the book to transport it out of the house.

They also keep the books in fine shape, of course!

I dropped one of my FS books onto hard tiles last week.

If it had not been in the slipcase it probably would have damaged it badly. The book might have opened on its fall and possibly done hideous things to it on impact.

However within the protection of the slipcase, it 'walked away' from it.

> 4

I would accept that. But those sorts of accidents are, I hope, quite rare.

I love my slipcases ... it's part of what sets FS books apart from others on my shelves. My house is a dust-haven and I like the fact that they keep the books dust-free. Also, I just like the look of them on the shelves. I love the decorated ones that I've got and I like the sensation of removing a book from the case when I want to read it. I carry the slipcases around the house with my books which means when I read them, I don't feel that I have to put them back in the bookshelf each night to protect them from toddlers and cats ... they just go back in the slipcases wherever they are.

> 6

I knew that I would be fighting a losing battle here. Most Folio aficionados are addicted to slipcases.

But do books get that dusty ? And does a little dust damage a book ? You just blow it off when you pick up the book.

I suspect that most people like Folio slipcases because -

a. They are used to them and regard them as an essential part of the Folio experience and,

b. Like Klarusu they find them aesthetically attractive.

I like their look; they also presumably protect the books against dust and incense smoke, and mechanical damage.

I like the slipcases, they protect my books from my fingermarks and various scuffs. I find them a pain only a) when they are too tight so I have to prise the book out with my fingernails and b) when they are too loose so the book slips out too quickly and I have to catch it.
They are not really visible on the bookshelves as they are all crammed together.

Sorry, Quicksilver, I'm with the majority here for all the reasons given: protection, aesthetics, the 'Folio experience', etc. I certainly don't think that slipcases don't look good on the shelf. They help the books to stand up straight which actually enhances neat presentation. Having said that, I expect some people prefer their books to loll about looking nonchalant.

When comparing the sale price of slipcased vs non-slipcased FS books in the used market, one could easily draw the conclusion that it is the piece of cardboard that is the most expensive aspect of the book.

I'm definitely in the "pro" camp as I think they do give the books tremendous protection; although when the price is cheap enough I have been tempted by non-slipcased FS books on eBay. They have to be very cheap though, for me to bite.

I'm both for and against. I don't think they're worth so much money so like you Huxley if I see a non-slipcased book on Ebay I pick it up if it isn't too expensive. But I do value their protection even if they do take up space. I wouldn't however pay a premium for them. And the ones that are too tight eg Eyewitness to History are really irritating.

Love 'em. I've bought many a used book in perfect condition with a beaten-up slipcase. My assumption is that the slipcase kept the book perfect.

Maybe durable buckram wouldn't look as bad as the slipcases have, but they're not kevlar, and a lot of the books have paper sides (or other non-buckram materials).

Slipcase pros:
1. protect the book from dust, which can do permanent harm over time. Yes, you can blow the dust off when you pick up the book, but a) I have 3000 books, so some may not be touched for years; and b) dust does work its way in between the pages over time.
2. protect most of the book from sunlight
3. protect the book from scratches, scuffs, and drops (when not being read). Some bindings are also paper, so the scratches and scuffs on the slipcase does show what would have happened to the book.
4. protect the book from scuffing when the book slides across the shelf as you adjust to add another book
5. prevents the boards from warping
6. prevents the book from becoming 'cocked' if it's not held exactly vertical on the shelf

Slipcase cons:
1. take up more space on the shelf
2. are usually plain and dull, unlike the books themselves
3. if too tight, actually increase the chance of damage to the book when trying to extract from, or return to, the slipcase
4. add to the cost of the book? not sure.
5. become a bit 'tired' looking after awhile.

My bottom line - pros win. Keep in mind, many of the pros relate to issues that will not affect the book's appearance for years. But I intend to be reading these in three decades, and hope that someone else will be reading them in 10 decades. I have books that were fine editions from 100+ years ago, and sunlight damage, shelf scuffing, dusty odors, and scratches are common problems, along with quite a few with cocked spines and bowed boards due to improper shelving (if not slipcases, use good, tall bookends, people!).

Os.

I chuck 'em. Even the LE boxes. Life's too short.

Having purchased Limited Editions Club and Heritage Press books from the 20s through the 80s, I firmly believe they protect the bindings (and yes, dust can be detrimental to a book's condition and blowing it off doesn't really solve the problem: dust is almost never dry, but contains minute particles of oils that leave a grimy film--we won't even go to the damage caused by soot from fireplaces).

A question asked on another thread dealing with slipcases is still pertinent: for a reduction in cost, would you order the books without slipcases? Not many would, I think.

Some great posts here. I knew this would be a contoversial topic.

Consider, practically all Folio publicity shots - even where only the spines are shown - are not of slipcased volumes. look for instance at the picture on top of our own page.

> 15 That's brave. Much as slipcases irritate me, I would not chuck them out, just store them somewhere. But I can see you are close to my way of thinking about slipcases, just a lot braver.

>17 Quicksilver66:

Throwing away the LE solander boxes perhaps was brave, as they're not unattractive, and I knew I was permanently impairing the resale value of the books. With ordinary editions, not so brave, with resale value being relatively trivial in most cases, and the cardboard unforgivably plain. Plus I like my books pert on the shelves, ready to go. I figured I'd never really re-sell anyway, even the LEs, so why nervously hoard the boxes.

I'm sure you'll do the same eventually - after all, how much storage space are you willing to consecrate to storage boxes?

For me, the life's too short thing doesn't have me tossing the boxes. I kinda like seeing them wrapped in the boxes, telling me that they're special. And I like pulling them out of the cases when I want to read them. Again, a sign of being special, in a way. Like a little tradition before I start on a nice book as opposed to a less nice one.

My shelves don't show the sides of books (or slipcases) anyway, just the spines. So I'm not losing anything at all as far as aesthetics.

One more pro for slipcases - I leave them on the shelf while reading the book. So, they reserve the space, I can easily return it to the same spot, and it keeps the neighboring books supported (protected from warping or leaning) until the FS book is returned (I mix my FSs with others).

Os.

20: Yeah, that's what I do. I turn them around, so it's not a gaping hole.

I love the slipcases. Besides the obvious reasons such as protection, etc.. I also use them as Os does. When I am reading a Folio book I leave the slipcase as a place holder on the shelf. And as Gistak said it is part of what makes the Folio volumes special.

To read a book I remove slipcase and book, I don't mind a gaping hole as then I know where the book belongs when I put it back again. In its case, the book can be put down on the bed, on the floor, beside the sofa, anywhere, and I don't need to worry about it. And as I like to take photos of my books at an angle instead of scans, I often use the slipcase as a prop.
Leonb, if I had come across your solander boxes in the rubbish I would have scavenged them and brought them home, I'm sure they must have some useful purpose!

I'm another in the pro slipcase camp - protection, aesthetics and because it makes them special!

What on earth is a slipcase? Is that what is a.k.a. "dust jacket"?? (I never heard the word slipcase before).

Tid: A slipcase is a sleeve that a book slides into; not the same as a dust jacket in that the dust jacket remains on the book, even while the book is in use. The slipcase is a protective covering which holds the book closed.

BTW, I am a BIG fan of slipcases. I think they are wonderful protective thingies. (Yes, that's a technical term.)

I'm also in the Pro slipcase camp. I know first hand how dust can work it's way into a book. leonb you can send me any slipcase or solander box you want to get rid of.

Like 15 I chuck them as well. I will never re-sell and when they are moved on I will be no more will cease to be.

So, if anyone has a spare slipcase for the lives of the later ceasars.... Folio again send it without any protection, so it arrived pretty mangled.

The renewal offer was wrapped in double layer, though. So now I have a pristine card game book, but a mangled "Later ceasars"

Does the FS sell replacement slipcases?

Incidentally, I ran across a vendor of handmade clamshell cases that some of you may find interesting, especially for your first editions. (No personal affiliation; no direct endorsement.)

http://www.securenet.net/tbcl/CustomCasesAA_OPEN.htm

> 29

Contact Folio. They will ship you another replacement slipcase (or even a replacement volume) at no cost to you. I would ask them to send you a whole replacement volume - a slipcase shipped on its own is bound to get mangled.

Love the slipcase. If you have ever purchased any used books by Folio or Heritage Press, you will love them too. I just purchased the Bhagavad Gita as a 1965 Heritage Press edition with slipcase. The book is in beautiful condition thanks to the slipcase. I have my eye on The Argonautica from 1960.

I would also like to sign my name on the pro side.

I am so grateful to slipcases for doing exactly what dust jackets can never do - protecting the books top edge!
In fact, if I could just illustrate this point and particularly Django's point in message 16: "I firmly believe they protect the bindings (and yes, dust can be detrimental to a book's condition and blowing it off doesn't really solve the problem: dust is almost never dry, but contains minute particles of oils that leave a grimy film--we won't even go to the damage caused by soot from fireplaces)." with a few pictures I have of a very old book.
Published in 1700 and a wonderful example of what 300 years of dust and goodness knows what else can do to a book, please look away now if you are of a sensitive bookish disposition (and that goes especially for you lot who throw protection away!!):

Top edge


Compared to the bottom edge


Inside


Thank you Folio!! Thank you from the bottom of my book loving heart!

>33 Lady_Lulu:

Are you planning on sticking around another 300 years?

Incidentally, has anyone considered that slipping in and out of cases must erode books' edges over time? Especially when they're snug. And the sun-soaked spines will discolour to mismatch the sides. (Not that I'm questioning the net benefit integrity-wise.)

And the sun-soaked spines will discolour to mismatch the sides.

Thats why I shelve some of my Folios and LEC books the traditional way: spine-in.

I have to put a new label sticker on the slipcase of course, to be able to identify the book.

34: It's nice to know they're protected, regardless of whether we'll be here or not. Either you're the kind of person who feels that way or you're not. This isn't a question of logic, but of personality.

(In my case, I like the slipcases, regardless of what they do over 300 years, so it's not a hardship.)

I think that pulling books off a shelf must always do some amount of damage to a book. Pulling it out of a slipcase must as well. But the vast majority of the time, I'm not pulling it out. It's just sitting there.

As far as the sun, my books are exposed at the spine and not the sides. That's true whether in a slipcase or not.

>36 gistak:

True, the sides don't see much action on the shelves - didn't think that one through!

Many fine presses put a label on the "spine" of the slipcase as well so that you can go for maximum protection and store them "spine in". I know some of my LECs and Arion Press books are like that and normally I shelve them "spine in" when I have the luxury.

I have actually found that a number of slipcases do damage my Folio books on the corners where they rub against the slipcase when inserting the book. My view is still that Folio slipcases serve very little practical benefit and are not aesthetically pleasing.

Quicksilver, I think you represent the minority opinion on this one.

On another group, I mentioned that my LEC copy of Main Street illustrated by Grant Wood had previously been owned by someone who shared your opinion, as it had no slipcase when I bought it. An eBay seller just happens to have an empty slipcase for this book and is selling it for $50 US.

I wonder what a solander box for the Letterpress Shakespeare or Night Thoughts will fetch some day?

>39 Quicksilver66: and others

FWIW, here's how I remove a book from a slipcase:

With the spine facing the floor, I hold the top of the slipcase with the left hand, press the botton against my chest, and keep my right hand below the spine to catch the book. With, perhaps, a little shake, gravity will draw the book into my right hand. This does a couple of things to preserve the book - 1) gravity is working parallel to the top and bottom of the book, which reduces rubbing on on these edges, and 2) there is no pulling, picking, or scratching at the spine to get a 'handle' on it.

I believe, without any hard data to support it, that this keeps the wear and tear down to no more than any other book on my shelves as it is grabbed and pulled out from between other books.

Also, as I've mentioned in an earlier post, I leave the slipcase on the shelf while reading the book, so the book is not inserted and removed more than once or twice, unless it's an oft used reference (of which I have only a few that are in slipcases).

Os.

I'll join in the minority here: I don't like the slipcases, generally. For one, I think that they're ugly (with a few exceptions - I usually like the ones with the scalloped top/bottom edge, and some of the decorated ones), and they are rather an eyesore when lined up on the shelf. Since I tend to handle my books often, it also gets pretty annoying taking them in and out of slipcases when I want one off the shelf.

They are rather wonderful for shipping/moving/storage though, so I hang on to them for that reason.

41 my technique: I hold the book in its case by the two short ends with the spine facing a table (close to it to avoid a big drop), and shake the case gently till the book slides partly out, then I get hold of the book and pull the rest of the case off.

I yell threats at it until it comes out on its own.

#44: Chuck Norris doesn't remove a book from its slipcase, he...

I like slipcases, primarily because, as others have written, they keep the dust off. I'll admit it: I am no great housekeeper. Anyone who asks how dusty books can really get clearly has not visited my apartment.

I wonder if Dr. Johnson would put Chuck Norris jokes below puns

I am both. First of all, yes, they protect the book, sometimes. Actually, if the slipcase is at all warped, so is the book. And they are usually very tight and I don't like the way they scrape the edges when I pull them in and out. They are ugly and plain, most of the time, and take up tremendous space. I spoke with one of the employees at FS about a year ago. He said they were always meant to just be for protection in mailing...nothing more. Sadly, if you sell an FS book without a slipcase, you get less money. Some bookstores won't even buy it without the case. Ridiculous. Luckily I plan to keep mine, anyhow. I have chucked the majority of mine and my books look fine. They look lovely, actually. All lined up perfectly with more space for more books, clean, bright and happy. I love dusting and my books get a once over every week, so no problem there. Plus they are stored in barrister bookcases in a fairly dark room, so they are not fading, nor getting dirty. I simply don't drop my books. And I don't eat and drink while reading a book, either. I read, while reading a book. I don't bring them in the bathtub, either! None of my lovely Oxford or Cambridge Press hardcovers have slipcases and they are fine. Plus a slightly aged book always has that beautiful loved patina to them. I don't buy FS books to admire on the shelf and try to impress people. I buy them to read. I have also noticed when I have bought used FS books the slipcases have often trapped moisture in the back and foxed both the case and the pages of the book. Not a good thing.

Therefore, I like them for transport to my house, but beyond that I make the decision whether or not to keep them on an individual basis.

You know what I love? The fact that a conversation on slipcases has made it onto 'Hot Topics' in Talk ;-)

AFAIK, we don't have slipcases in the UK so I can't really comment further on this.

Except to say that I have books that are decades old and haven't disintegrated yet.

Tid, the Folio's come with slipcases in the UK ...

Oh right - not being a Folio subscriber, I suppose I shouldn't really be in this thread at all (I often post into interesting threads without noticing which group owns it...)

I love the slipcases, however, am a little nervous of them since a recent shock when I took a book out of the case and a hiding spider flew out with the book and ran into my bed! Why do spiders insist on being everywhere?

47: I think that the FS employee who told you that was mistaken.

For one thing, many of the slipcases have illustrations, photos, or other decorations on them.

The FS Web site says:

"Dust-jackets don’t protect fine bindings and were originally invented as a marketing ploy in crowded bookshops, so Folio Society books are presented in slipcases. These are the traditional coverings for fine editions and a sturdy protector against light and dust."

Other publishers say the same thing. The Library of America, for example, explains that members get the books in a "durable" slipcase, rather than the dust jacket that nonmembers get.

I understand that some people may not like them, of course.

51: Of course, you're welcome to comment. But... no one on this list has said that books disintegrate when not in a slipcase.

One more point in favour of slipcases: In the case of giant, oversize books that would never fit in any bookcase I know, such as Abbeville Press's History of Venice in Painting or History of Paris in Painting - The slipcase forms a small bookcase, allowing the book to stand up on its own without damaging it.

The Abbeville slipcase actually has a contoured floor to support the pages. This last point is important for big & heavy books, over time the pages tend to sag so that they touch the bookshelf.

The only other solution takes up more space:
http://www.taschen.com/pages/en/catalogue/photography/all/02601/facts.helmut_new...

Kramer, where are you when we need you (for the Seinfeld-challenged: Kramer marketed a coffee-table book with legs that forms a coffee-table).

>54 madA63: The only other solution takes up more space

Hmm... is 10,000 copies really a limited edition (in the sense that collectors are looking for, anyway)? On another FS thread, 1,000 copies was considered questionable by some.

for big & heavy books, over time the pages tend to sag so that they touch the bookshelf.
Also, as far as the sagging problem for heavier (also for thicker) books goes, the best solution I've seen (and it's going to be tough to describe) is a piece of foamboard, approx 1/8 to 1/4 inch thick, cut to the width of the page block, which resides under the book on the shelf (or in the slipcase) and supports the page block. The material contacting the book should, of course, be pH neutral and should not emit volatile organic 'fumes' (many types of man-made materials do). I suppose it could be thick cardboard as well, as long as it's pH neutral. If one can find the right material, these can be easily cut to size for any fine book. The cardboard used by bookbinders the boards of books comes to mind - I would expect that to be pH neutral.

If I could remember which four or five of the 3,000 books in my libray had one of these under it, I'd pull it out and post a photo. I'm sure I'll run across one someday.

Os.

>54 madA63:
Also, regarding the crazy $15,000 book w/stand, I just noticed the 10,000 limited edition run sold out! It only takes a second to realize that that's $150,000,000 gross receipts for this nice little limited edition! I'm sure that brought in a tidy little profit.

Os.

>44 gistak: I just tried that. Mine were too scared to come out. They shivered a little - quite pathetic.

> 47

That's exactly my attitude. I have now removed the slipcases from my Folio books (with the exception of the decorated ones) and the shelf looks cleaner, brighter - and the books are ready for reading and handling. But I am a completist and I can't bring myself to chuck the slipcases out and that creates a storage problem. I also have to label the slipcases so I know which book they belong to. All of that is a nuisance which means that before long and for the sake of convenience the ugly cardboard boxes are probably going to end up covering the books again.

It's a dilema. If anyone here is a Tintin fan they remember that scene in the Red Sea Sharks where Captain Haddock can't sleep because he is unable to decide whether or not he should have his beard above the sheet or below - neither will answer. That's how I feel about slipcases and I don't have the courage of Lady19thC or Leonb to chuck them out completely.

An alternative is that Folio moves entirely to the production of the more attractive decorated slipcases.

maybe you could put them behind the books?
Which brings me to another dilemma - do you line up your books neatly with the front of the shelves or do you push them all to the back?

I go halfway - I line up the fronts in a gentle curve (am not fond of straightness), leaving a gap between back of book and back of shelf (that gets very dusty) and another in front for placing various ornamental bits and bobs.

> 59

Sticking the boxes at the back would take up too much space on the shelf and would not, I think, look attractive. There are only two options - under the bed (which I hate) or in the loft.

I push my books to the back of the shelf. I don't line them up - I like to see a lack of unity in my shelves, a little chaos, so I like the fact that the books are different shapes,sizes and colours.

#59 I'm a liner-upper. If my husband really wants to annoy me, he pushes books randomly backwards and waits to see how long it takes me to notice (about 10 seconds after entering the room in most cases). However, he then doesn't get any supper for a week ....

... and I'm not even going to start on the times that he switches volumes around so that series are out of order. On those occasions, it's the coal cellar for him.

In our public library in Lausanne, there is a man who comes in and deliberately changes books from one shelf to another.
I must confess to pushing all my husband's jazz CDs to the back of the shelves as he always leaves them any old how. In the days of LPs he used to annoy me by putting the paper sleeves inside in the wrong direction, with the opening at the front, so if you picked up the cover the disk shot out.

#63: "In our pubic library in Lausanne": I suppose he does this only with books on anatomy, right? This story is hair-raising...

> 63 There are all kinds of strange people with OCD in libraries. Why this is I don't know :-)

The most useful case (as told to me by someone working at the University of Toronto library) is the person who cannot see books lying around and re-shelves them correctly. All she had to do was to bring the returned books cart anywhere near the stacks and he would re-shelve them while doing other things. Was he a retired librarian who could not shake the habit?

I used to shelve my books near the edge of the shelf, and then push them back with a big wooden ruler, thus getting a really straight wall of books. I have since overcome this behaviour...

> 54 Maybe this is worth a thousand words:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/brindacier/3908753577/in/set-72157622044685945/

> 66 - The Rolls Royce of slipcases...

>64 Pepys: oh gosh, pepys I just had to correct that typo!

>63 overthemoon:

overthemoon, I was thinking your husband sounded like an amiable sort until you related how he puts the paper sleeves back in the albums with LPs. In the good old days, the Spanish Inquisition knew how to treat such transgressors.

Incidentally, though I gave in and started buying CDs 5 years ago, 90% of my focused listening is still to LPs. I often mused that were the Folio Society to hire me as editor, I would bring out some Limited Editions of modern writers and include in the solander boxes records or CDs of them reading from their own works--Caedmon Records once had an extensive catalog of such recordings.

>66 madA63:
That's it - that's the book block support I was trying to describe in post 55

Os.

>59 overthemoon:

I used to line up the spines until I discovered that the book boards are more likely to warp if they are not supported at or near the fore-edge. So now I line up the fore-edge. This, of course, is not an issue for books in slipcases.

I also leave about 1/2 to 1 inch of space behind the books for air circulation. This generally leaves a few inches in front of the books, where I set small objects of interest (I have a few 'Pot-Bellys' of authors, for example), object d'art, and small book related items. It also allows space to set a small book while waiting to be shelved.

How long it takes for a book board to warp varies with the construction of the book, but I had one warp within a year of being placed on the shelf. That's when I started lining up the fore-edges instead of the spine.

The thing is, most book boards are a heavy cardboard, covered on one side by paper, cloth and/or leather, and on the other by a paper paste-down. This often means that only one side of the cardboard is coated with glue, and that results a tendancy (however slight) for the board to warp. I suspect that tendancy fades with age, however.

Os.

>59 overthemoon:
BTW, the warping issue is really only likely over a long period of time and if the size of adjacent books is quite different. However, lining up the fore-edges instead of the spines also keeps the page block tight where dust could find its way in between the pages (again, not an issue with books in slipcases). One assumes that the spine can handle keeping the page block tight on that edge.

Os,

Apologies if this has been addressed, but I've bought a number of older books with slip cases that have been beaten to hell. They did their job protecting the books that survived just fine, but a frayed, ratty, falling apart slip case on the shelf is not very attractive. Some of these are oddly sized so finding a replacement isn't really feasible. How seriously would I be damaging the value of the book if I throw out a crumbling slip case? and I don't suppose we've located a source for replacement slip cases as mentioned above?

I'd say the slipcase should also protect the binding from sag. Without the slipcase to press the covers snug against the pages, the weight of the pages would probably exert more pressure on the binding. The thicker the book, the more binding sag would be a possibility. Not that a Folio Society binding is likely to come apart but the slipcase could make a difference in how long the binding holds up over a great amount of time and how much sag the binding ever develops.

I just noticed today that the copy of Trilby (1947) I bought recently has slightly curved boards - it doesn't have a slipcase and I suppose FS books were not equipped with them in the early years. However it hasn't developed any sag.
I suppose it must be possible to make one's own slipcases with cardboard and cover them with attractive paper. I'll look into that... when I retire.

I was thinking along the same lines, if only I had the time.

If I have certain volumes that do not have slipcases but are prone to warping, I try to stack them horizontally.

One reason that I love slipcases is that it means that the books do not come with dust covers! I feel compelled to put every book that I buy with a dust cover in a clear polyester film cover for protection. This process takes time and is annoying. It's a relief to skip this step with the Folios.

>73 varielle:
Depending on what's wrong with the slipcase, I've had success with basic structural repair. If the slipcase has split along an edge, you can apply a bookmakers glue to the edges and press together until it's dry enough to hold. Then take a strip of pH neutral, long fiber or rag paper (perhaps a rice paper), fold it length-wise to form an L-shaped strip, apply glue to the inside of the partially repaired joint, and then apply the paper strip. Once completely dry, this should hold-up for many more years of book protection. This does nothing for the other appearance issues common to slipcases - frayed edges, fading, discoloration from handling, scrapes, etc., but often it's the splitting apart that makes an old slipcase look really bad on the shelf.

Os.

>75 overthemoon:
Of course, that would be covered with pH neutral paper.

>73 varielle:
If the slipcase suffers from other appearance issues, re-covering with pH neutral paper is an option, but I'd practice on some throwaways first. It's trickier than you think to get a neat looking application of paper on box with glue. Inspect a good slipcase to see how and where they fold and overlap the paper to provide that seamless look.

Os.

>77 LaCamera:
The simplest prevention for warping while shelving books in the 'normal' vertical orientation is to shelve similar sized books together and to use properly sized bookends wherever needed. Of course, if the slipcase is not a bit snug, you may not be able to 'squeeze' the book enough to avoid a bit of warping, but I've never had that happen with even the average quality slipcase.

Os.

>78 toodlessm:
I store the dustwrappers/jackets separately, either horizontally in a drawer, or vertically in archival pocket sleeves in 3-ring binders. Seemed like a good solution when I started, but now, having probably 1,000 or so stored this way, I'd be hard-pressed to match the jacket/wrapper with the book now. I need to go through my dustwrapper collection and organize it to match my library.

I started doing it this way for two reasons - 1) to preserve the dustwrapper, and, 2) because I like the look of shelved books much better without the dustwrappers.

Os.

I entirely concur; I (generally) loathe the look of dust jackets.

I also loathe dust jackets and, like Susan, I protect mine in mylar film whenever I can.

I still think Folio books look better on the shelves without slipcases, but I acknowledge that they do protect the books so I keep them on. The exception is whichever Folio I am currently reading, which usually sits on my desk without its slipcase until I have finished the volume.

Os, you have talked me into a repair attempt. This is what I get for being a bottom feeder on Ebay. Not being a crafty person I'm guessing I can find the pH neutral paper and bookbinders glue in an art or craft store? and should I look for any particular brand?

varielle, if I may interject, I have found mulberry paper to be the best for this kind of repair. It's thin but has great tensile strength, and is available in a lot of different flavors from mild to wild.

http://www.mulberrypaperandmore.com/handmarbledmulberrypaperandmomipaper.aspx

That looks perfect!

>85 varielle:
The type of glue often used is simply a wheat based paste (that's why the silverfish like books so much), and is also avaliable as a dry powder to mix as you need it. However, there is now a white polyvinyl acetate with a pH of 6.8-7.2 that is commonly used. Don't know if that turns off the silverfish, but it keeps on the dry shelf longer.

Remember, less is more when gluing, especially the thin rice or mulberry paper. You won't use much unless you have a lot to mend, so buy a small bottle to start.

It may be hard to find this locally (craft stores or scrapbooking shops, perhaps, since they should also be concerned about acidic papers and adhesives). I buy library care and storage supplies from Gaylord.com, and that's where I get the PVA adhesive when I need it.

Os.

>86 Django6924:
I hadn't seen the mulberry paper. I'll have to pick up a bit of that to play with. The 'text weight' line looks right for repair work, since a plain, neutral color is often what's needed. The tissue weight should be right for repairing torn pages, but for this, one usually needs white or off-white so it's mostly invisible.

Rice paper has proven the best of what I've used (and it's plain white color is usually what's needed for book/page repair). I have been know to use pH neutral card stock for heavy duty repairs that will be out of sight.

I've not had time to do much of this for the past few years, so my 'to be repaired' collection is getting a bit out of hand. I really need to quit working and spend my time on my library :-)

Os.

I'm going to weigh in on the question of slip cases on the "For" side. I do like them and do not think they look dark, heavy, or oppressive on my shelves. They do protect the books from excessive exposure to light, except for the spine area which, in my collection, is currently displayed at the front of the shelf for the purposes of identifying the books.

As for concealing the beauty of the books on the shelves, I don't think that's much of a factor either, since none of my books are on the shelves in any way which would display front or back covers (where most of the beauty resides). I only have room to shelve my books with spine facing outward (or inward, once I manage to get some identification on the slip cases).

Fortunately for my books, this whole apartment is somewhat dark and oppressive... meaning that most of my books get little exposure to light of any kind or for very long.

Like others here, I leave the slip cases on the shelf as a "place holder" while I am reading my FS books. When I finish my reading, the book is returned to the slip case and its original place on the shelf. The empty slip case is also a clue to me that I don't have free shelf space for an additional book or books in that place.

#7. >>>>But do books get that dusty ? And does a little dust damage a book ? You just blow it off when you pick up the book.

Maybe your books don't get dusty; however, mine do, very much so. And some of them might not be touched for years at a time because I have so many.

Yes, dust can be very corrosive... I saw what my mother's draperies looked like after 20-some years of not being sent to the dry-cleaners. The dust had literally eaten holes in the fabric; books being made of paper would be similarly destroyed, most likely in a considerably lesser time if they weren't dusted. Blowing off the dust isn't always that easy as it's not just dry dust. I wish that all of my valued books could have slip cases...

The bulk of the slip cases isn't enough to make much difference in the shelf space the books consume. If I removed all the slip cases, the 20 or so FS books that take one shelf on one of my book cases would not leave room for even one additional book...

Thanks Os and Django. I hope your bosses, if you have them, reward all this dilligenge and effectiveness..:).

> 90

Well stated and persuasive argument in favour of slipcases, thanks 1dragones.

I have reached the stage where I accept slipcases now, feeling neither antipathy nor liking towards them - they are just a fact of the Folio world I inhabit. I do now accept that they provide valuable protection for books - my Folio library is now quite large and I don't always dust as much as I should.

I think few of us always dust as much as we should...

OK, so I went off and corralled some fancy paper and glue, all archival and pH correct. So, will start patching up this week and see how it goes. I'll likely start with one that's not worth much in case I really screw it up.

I am not a super clean freak, but I do have three bassets that shed a lot and contribute a fair amount of sediment with their coat dander, etc. The easiest way I have found to deal with dust in my home is to have two implements: 1) a feather duster and 2) a Rabbit air purifier.

Before I start dusting any room, I plug in my Rabbit and turn it on full blast. Then the feather dusting goes very, very quickly and the air purifier picks up a lot of the sediment in the air. I quickly leave and that's the end of it.

Just ran across this site (http://www.indiana.edu/~libpres/manual/mantoc.html) - a very good online manual for many types of book/page repair, for the serious book restorer.

Os.

96. >>> Thanks for that link. It contains much information I need.

Update to 94 - Success. I found rice paper & ph neutral glue at an art supply store. I tried to match the color of the paper to the original color of the slip case. I used a fine white paper to reinforce the broken parts of the slip case and then cut a pattern following the original one out of the matching colored paper. If you didn't know you couldn't tell it wasn't original. *pats self on back*

>98 varielle:

We always knew you could do it! (Now that you're an expert, I have this set of Casanova with the slipcases in pieces....)

With regards to the slipcases, I wished that they would show the title on the backside in the same way that the title is printed on the spine (so that there's a consistent look). That way I could put them on the shelves with the spines facing inside to protect them against fading from sunlight. In fact, when I received my first Folio books I was surprised this wasn't the case.

100.> "I wished that they would show the title on the backside in the same way that the title is printed on the spine (so that there's a consistent look)."

I second that wish, and was equally surprised to see that most of my FS books came with unmarked slip cases. To date, the Mapp and Lucia set has been the only exception. That slip case is marked on one end, which, if I turn the case so the markings face the front of my shelf, then the book spines will face to the left, and the set would also take less shelf space in that orientation... on my cramped shelves, that orientation would be favorable, but I'm not so sure I like the spines facing left. Still there is food for thought.

The Marco Polo slip case is illustrated, but as far as title/author information, even that lovely slip case has no markings. :(

Today, I bought some clear address labels, 1 X 4 inches in size. For those used to metric measurements, sorry, my math skills aren't up to the conversion. 20 of these labels fit on one sheet, so the labels are not extremely large. I intend to experiment a bit to see if I can create my own decent looking title and author labels for the back of most slip cases. Since the labels have no coloring of their own, I'll need to use lighter colored text to show up against the darker shade of the slip cases. My intention is to use a lighter shade of the slip case color so that my labels will look as if they belong on the slip case.

Oh! I just remembered, the Miss Marple slip case is also marked, but, again, in the wrong orientation for easy identification of that volume on the shelf. :( I do wish FS would put the slip case markings in a more useful position.

I'll just have to let my identification for the Marco Polo volume be the illustrations, because I do not wish to spoil them.

I think printed slip cases should be a novelty for Limited Editions as I want the normal FS editions to be affordable but I would really appreciate sag protector in the slipcases for oversize books - LE or not.

I don't think printed slip cases would add much to the price - perhaps a dollar or two, which I would willingly pay. As noted above, the Agatha Christie (Miss Marple) volume came with a printed slip case (on the front face, though, not the spine) and didn't cost me any more... in fact that volume cost less than some of the others I purchased that only have plain slip cases.

LE's are already well beyond my means, so if they add a few more dollars to the cost of those, I won't be affected either way. Sag protectors would be useful but if too costly, I'd just bypass that for the regular FS volumes. I prefer to store oversize books flat anyhow.

The FS also could improve their website if they would put some notation on the description that a book is oversize (when that is true, of course).

considering the shape of the paper that is used to cover the slipcase, I don't think it would be easy to print the spines, technically. They could possibly be over-printed or stamped, but I'm sure that would cost more. Osbaldistone, what do you think?
Personally I'm perfectly happy with the slipcases as they are; it would seem unnatural to shelve all my books spine inwards.

I guess I'm odd, in a way. I put books onto my shelves in several different orientations to get as many books on the shelf as I can without packing them really tight, so spine inwards wouldn't be too different for me. I even tried that orientation for awhile; my only major objection being that I can't see which book is which because the slip cases are not marked. I can pick out those which have unique colored slip cases (There's only one black, one green, one brown, but at least two are red, and many are blue.) The Mapp and Lucia set is the only shared slip case at the moment, so even if I could not see the markings, I'd know that case too.

Almost all Limited Editions Club books had the titles on the slipcase spine--usually it was a pasted label, but sometimes the paper covering itself was printed.

105.> Shape of paper shouldn't matter. With laser printers, the identification information for the book could be printed after the paper has been applied to the box. My husband works in the food packing industry so he sees this sort of printing done every day. For regular FS editions, it does not need to be extremely fancy printing, just something that is legible and looks decent.

107.> Pasted labels would work nicely. That's what I will wind up with after my do-it-yourself project is complete.

Along with the great majority here I'm a big fan of slipcases which add considerably to the quality feel of FS editions. They are of course significant in protecting books as can be seen from the scratches/stains/fading they may accumulate over time; moreover they drastically reduce the circulation of ambient humidity around page edges and thereby greatly inhibit foxing. I think they look great on the bookshelves, and enjoy their added benefit of 'place-keeping' which minimises disturbance and rubbing to neighbouring volumes. I think it's quite reasonable that Folio books should retain higher re-sale values when accompanied by the original slipcases.

I agree with others above in that I loathe dustjackets which are superfluous and call for more protection than the book itself - hurrah that FS slipcases preclude any need for dustjackets!

My main problem is that I've sometimes picked up a second hand Folio very cheaply precisely because it did not have a slipcase - has anyone tried making or otherwise sourcing a slipcase for a Folio volume?!!

>109 cronshaw: yes, see varielle's messages above (94, 98)

I haven't constructed one from scratch yet, but need to soon. Let me know how it goes. I've been told that I can find the right weight of ph correct cardboard at an architectural supply place. Apparently they use something similar to build models (or at least the old guys still do).

109. > See Osbaldistone's message #96 above. The info on constructing a clamshell case could easily be adapted to create a slipcase more like those with which most FS books are issued. The double-walled construction suggested would be well worth considering for heavy books. If I am not mistaken, there is also info on creating support for the page block in there as well.

I picked up a few FS volumes without their jackets over the new year. Decameron 2V 1969: nice but would like a slipcase.

113.> FS probably does not have a slip case to fit that set now, but you could ask, just in case or perhaps build your own. Osbaldistone found a great resource for book repairs and stuff... plus info on creating your own clamshell case, from which you could get ideas for building a simpler slip case. See message 96...

Just finished dusting two sections of the library. Very dusty and much more time spent on non-slipcased books as I vacuum the top edge of the pages before wiping with a dustrag (if the pages are trimmed and/or gilt). I LOVE slipcases!

Actually they are not. Bindings are meant to protect the pages. FS slipcases are entirely unnecessary, as are their meretricious bindings. FS publications are not for serious book collectors (my local 2nd hand book store bears witness to that, it is full of them). They are for people with more money than sense. If you want to know how the trade values your FS books log onto Abebooks or similar and see what the trade thinks of them.

Books are meant to be read, some are objects of beauty in their own right, but I value them more if it is clear that they have been used. Hiding them in slipcases is akin to buying first growth claret because it is expensvie, but then never drinking it because it is an 'investment.'

> 116

I think everyone here will disagree with your comment that Folio books are for people with more money than sense. We are not collectors or investors but readers who appreciate fine editions. We read and enjoy our Folio books again and again - they take constant rereading as the volumes are well constructed and will last longer than many paperbacks or shoddy trade first edition hardcovers.

The firsr edition trade is crazy. I don't want to pay £100.00 for a first edition book which is a shoddy, poorly produced hardback. I would rather have a Folio edition to read and enjoy - then my investment has been repaid.

> 116 Sir, are you genuinely interested in the opinions of the people in this group, in which case I'm sure that you will find plenty of well-read individuals to joust with, or, are you simply bored on a muggy afternoon in soporific Devizes and wish to offend people?

I read many of the comments because I was fascinated that there was a group which worshipped the FS, and even more fascinated that they could generate over 100 comments on slipcases.

The FS is capable of doing good work - I own the Trollope Society's complete Trollope produced by the FS. But the FS then used the same sheets to produce their own garish version of some of Trollope's novels. They do not stand comparison.

By definition most of those posting here will disagree with me, but it must be recognised that many in the book trade have a low opinion of the FS and its products.

The weather here is less muggy and soporific than in Hampshire, for the record.

Actually, I use my slipcases in the same way I would use my wine cabinet. To keep my first growth claret in perfect condition for when I do choose to drink/read it.

> 119

And many have a high opinion of the Folio Society and it's products. You will also find many Folio volumes on Abe that are not cheap, particularly the Limited Editions.

The reason Folio books do not hold their value is that many are discounted as incentives to members in the first place and because a Folio book is never a first edition of a work - it is always a reprint.

For the most part I don't care what the book trade thinks about Folio volumes as I have a similarly low opinion of certain members of the book trade with their rip off prices.

There are many highly literate and educated readers on this forum who love Folio publications and the publications of other presses. They also criticise the Folio Society when they get it wrong.

You have an obvious predisposition to dislike the Folio Society and a tendancy to make generalised judgements about those that like Folio books. I have seen the symptoms before - the idea that people who like Folio Society books are not readers but lovers of books as objects only. That impression is entirely misconceived.

119 >

And they are entitled to their opinion just as you are entitled to yours.

Well, Mr/Ms Flack. Welcome to the Group, where I'm sure you'll attract some. I nearly moved to Wiltshire once, but found out only just in time that there are no potatoes there, because you have no Devizes for Chippenham.

A little bird tells me you're thinking of setting up a "Which Folio Society Editions make the Best Toilet Paper" group. Personally, I only use limited editions for that purpose, although occasionally the gilded edges can cause problems. That said, most Folio Society editions are less abrasive than mass market paperbacks.

A bookseller friend of mine has a whole wall of Folio Society books because he says they help to fill up shelves which would otherwise be groaning with unsold literary classics.

I was a little insulted to be accused of having more money than sense. I've always preferred thinking of myself as having less sense than money. To be perfectly honest, I now have very little of either.

By the way, what are your views on Dawkins?

> 123

Wonderful!

Hey Flack,
out of curiosity and for my own personal benefit, what book producer would you consider to be held in high opinion by the book trade?

Flack or Troll?

Thats his opinion and he is entitled to it. I choose to politely disagree, and I think that the fact that FS books are not uncommonly prize winners in book design or book illustration contests suggests what "the trade" thinks about the books.

I live in Singapore, which is generally a fairly damp place and a very poor climate for books.

I don't doubt that the quality of the paper used makes a difference as well and I have non-FS paperbacks in slipcases that have survived far better than your bog standard paperback, even though I am generally very careful about how exactly my books are stacked on my shelves.

I'm all in favour of the slipcases then! Without them, I strongly suspect my collection would be far more susceptible to the damp.

I take it you just wanted to sound off and were not looking for a response, except about Dawkins. Much has been read into my comments on FS productions that I did not actually say. I do not object to the quality of their book production, which can be very high, but to their publishing philosophy, which often seems to be to take popular books that have stood the test of time and make them into something that would make their author turn in his or her grave. I have the FS Alice, I also own an early copy. Of the two I always turn to the original, as Carroll had very particular ideas about the appearance of his book, which I respect, but the FS clearly did not. I own many other Alices, mostly bought as example of book children's book illustration over the years. The FS edition does not stand out.

Dawkins is not easy to read. He is too strident for my tastes. I think I probably agree with most of what he says, but have none of his books to hand to form a more considered opinion.

I live in Chile, and the recent earthquake threw all my books to the ground. The slipcases turned out to be life savers, otherwise all FS books would be ruined. A couple of slipcases were severely damaged, but it's contents were intact.
If you live in a shaky place like I do (California, I'm looking at you), you'll appreciate to keep your books in the case.

>131 supercell: traditionally, Britain has been much better known for her culinary delights than for her fine art, though.

Funniest thing about food that I have read in years. thanks for setting me up for a good weekend!

Hey, Britain can do both pretty well! JMW Turner wasn't too bad with the old paintbrush and you'd have to go a long way to beat a plateful of Aberdeen Angus, Yorkshire pud and Jersey Royals!

Just a pity we're rubbish at sport - good luck from this part of Blighty to Spain for the soccer and tennis.

> 133

Absolutely. And don't forget the Pre-Raphelites and William Morris and the Arts and Crafts Movement. And how about the fine art of literature - Shakespeare, Keats, Wordsworth, Blake, Austen, etc.

> 133

Hey! Can´t speak for the whole country but have a feeling you have me in mind. Let's be prudent and not count any chickens before they are hatched... Thank you for the thought.

>134 Quicksilver66:

QS: I'm sorry if I was a bit flippant in another thread. I do see the sincerity of your comments.

To correct the saying... Dawkins must have been messing with my thoughts!!

>129 Flack: "I have the FS Alice, I also own an early copy. Of the two I always turn to the original, as Carroll had very particular ideas about the appearance of his book, which I respect, but the FS clearly did not."

I agree with you, Flack, about Alice. Carroll's own views aside, there is something about the original edition which is so iconic and is so much reinforced by having been the version we (and many earlier generations) have grown up with, that only a very exceptional version could ever equal it. Pooh is another example, where Shepard's pictures are inextricably wedded to A. A. Milne's stories, despite bold attempts by Disney and others. Interestingly, Wind in the Willows is fair game, presumably because the first edition was not illustrated at all.

As for the Folio Society's "philosophy", this has clearly changed over the 60+ years since it began, and clearly reflects the aims and priorities of various editors over time. With the plethora of titles that have appeared since 1947 it's inevitable that some will have met with more popular approval than others. I know many people hate the metalic-looking Brave New World but it's certainly striking and different from my Penguin edition.

Occasionally, a book might be considered boring, but more often than not Folio's designs are bold and adventurous and, agreed, this may well mean we either love them or hate them, but personally, I'm glad the editorial team have the guts to be daring when an idea grabs them. Some books have won design awards and not a few artists have also won awards for their Folio illustrations. With such a large output these days there are plenty of titles to choose from and other publishers if you don't like them.

However, I realise you can't please all the people all the time, but over 63 years I feel there have been many more hits than misses. Just leafing through Folio 60 demonstrates this to me and it's fascinating, for example, to compare the designs decade by decade. I for one will continue to peruse their wares with interest in the years to come, until either my wallet passes on or I move to Australia.

While I very much dislike the way dust jackets chip and tear and do little to protect a book from a fall, many are beautifully and appropriately illustrated and will catch my eye so that I'll pick up the books and look them over, I think a bit of protection and marketing strategy is their purpose. So I really like the illustrated slipcases that so ably protect some of my Folio editions from falling and bumping and dust, e.g. Keay's The Spice Route, Macartney's An Embassy to China, Daniell's A Voyage 'Round the Coast of Great Britain and An Illustrated Journey 'Round the World, Whitefield's Mapping the World, etc.

I would not mind seeing some volumes with illustrated slipcovers with spine labels.

137.> "I would not mind seeing some volumes with illustrated slipcovers with spine labels."

I agree.

While some FS editions do have illustrated slip cases, The Travels of Marco Polo, Life by Richard Fortey, The History of Venice in Painting by Georges Duby for a few examples, none I know of come with spine labels. Those would be most welcome.

> 133 Just a pity we're rubbish at sport

A bit OT, but I'd have to completely disagree with that! We might not be the best (although in some things we are!), we might want to be better, we might indeed be unrealistic about some things (but then what is sport without the dreams?), but we're certainly not rubbish!

> 136

I suggest the versions of Alice illustrated by Mervyn Peake as a very good alternative to Tenniel. I prefer Peake and there is something very refreshing about his version of Alice. I have a nice slipcased hardback set as well. It's published by Bloomsbury, is good quality and reasonably priced (you can still pick copies up). It's also widely available in paperback. Peake was a wonderful illustrator, hugely talented.

There are a few examples, compared with Tenniel, on this link -

http://www.fpba.com/parenthesis/select-articles/p8_three_alices.html

>139 Willoyd: willoyd, please try and take that sentence in the spirit of the rest of my post (not to mention the week's football and tennis results) or we may need to move this to the 'ethical and philosophical issues...' thread.

I'm Welsh (still mentally living in the seventies as far as rugby is concerned), and support Pompey in football, so clearly I have some issues!

I definitely like slipcase as already mentioned would welcome illustrated slipcases with spine labels.

The best thing about slipcases is I paid £4 from Abe for a used 2001 copy of the Franchise Affair some months back when FS came out with it again in the brochure and it was in pristine condition.

That's the reason I buy FS books - just the thought of buying an inexpensive hardcover book cheaper than a penguin and in a better like new condition always keeps me coming back.

>141 HuxleyTheCat: Of course, Huxley.
I've been involved in a couple of fairly long debates about British sport in a couple of other forums related to the football on that theme, so it struck an immediate chord! I understand all too well re your personal affiliations - our local team is Leeds, so we've seen the same sort of thing in recent years. The recent news at Fratton Park looks a little more hopeful at least. But, enough said on this thread!

`140 Quicksilver66

I also love the Peake Alice illustrations. He was a genius at book illustration.

Fascinating how a discussion about slipcases has moved elsewhere. If a few people have thought harder about why they buy particular books, then I guess it will have been productive.

It has also made me wonder whether, for example, to look at the FS edition of the Aubrey/Maturin novels. I have the collected ed. put out by Norton in the USA, and it is full of misprints, and needs editorial work. Does anyone know if FS is tidying up O'Brian's own errors (there are a few there) and resetting the entire text?

>140 Quicksilver66: Two quotes from the copyright page:
'This edition follows the text of the first edition, with minor emendations.' and
'Set in Baskerville at The Folio Society.'

I'd be surprised if minor emendations ran to 'tidying up' authorial errors.

Flack, One of the reasons I particularly enjoy FS publications is that the editorial process seems to be a great deal more thorough than in any other contemporary large-scale publishing house. All other things being equal, I would pay a premium for a FS edition of a book, as I am frequently driven to distraction by the poor quality of proof-reading I find elsewhere.

To answer your question, yes, the FS does reset entire texts, I believe on all their publications - there is an article floating around somewhere in which the process is outlined, and if I can find it I will add the link in below.

Please do take a look at the Aubrey/Maturin series - the first five are available as a joining offer from the Society - you may well be converted.

Edited with the link for the article:

http://www.graphicrepro.co.za/assets/2/pdf/44-Folio.pdf

I have the collected ed. put out by Norton in the USA, and it is full of misprints, and needs editorial work.
I have the same set. Looking at the mistakes, I think they look to be the sort created by text being scanned and interpreted by OCR software. Really disappointing - so I have been really glad that FS have taken the project on. Looking at the first few volumes, they certainly don't appear to have retained those mistakes.

I did detect at least one misprint in the FS Master and Commander, though I didn't make a note of it, so I can't tell you what it is. Generally, though, I would say that Folio editions are remarkably free of such errors.

> 144

Flack - I too considered buying the Norton set a while ago but was put off because of what I heard regarding the misprints. Instead I bought the Harper Collins hardbacks which were then, back in 2003, still in print. I have not bought the Folio editions but I have inspected some copies and they look good. As Huxley says Folio are very good on the editorial side and misprints are generally rare.

Affle
HuxleyTheCat
Willoyd
boldface
Quicksilver66

Thank you all for your very helpful comments.

I bought the Norton ed. because I was living in the States at the time, and it was much cheaper than buying the paperbacks one by one. I think it was about $120 inc p&p. (say 80 pounds for the whole set). As I was not even sure that I wanted to read them all this seemed like a prudent approach. Also, being on rice paper, I could take one vol (four of the novels) on a plane and not overload my carry on. I get through a lot of books flying LHR-SFO. (This was pre Kindle).

I'll try the FS offer out and see how good the text is. (No, I won't be keeping the slipcases, before you ask.)

Just a story about the protective quality of a slipcase and, of course, my own idiocy.
Last year I acquired Birds and Mammals of North Americaby Axel Amuchastegui, an elephant folio produced by George Rainbird for the Tryon Gallery of London and bound by Zaehnsdorf, a beautiful and impressive volume of nature art and description. I decided to bring the book to work one day to show the guys, as landscapers most of us enjoy observing the natural world around us daily, and I have to say I wanted to blow their minds with the size and quality of the book.( Has anyone taken their Night Thoughts or Surinam Album or Temple of Flora to work, did everyones' jaw hit the floor?) Anyway, everyone was impressed, cannot repeat their words concerning the book and how much I spent for it, and afterwards I placed the book safely behind the seat of the truck with the windows rolled up because, where we were working on hole #2 of the new nine we're adding-my crew builds bunkers- the irrigation would be running of and on to keep the dust down, these heads put out 50gallons/minute. Later I looked over at the truck and saw that a coworker had moved it, rolled the windows down, and the irrigation water was going right in the window!

Well, the buckram covered slipcase was soaked with the softened glue allowing the buckram to slide around, but the book was perfectly dry except for the exposed leather spine, which quickly and easily was dried. I repositioned the fabric on the slipcase, laid it in the sun, and she dried up fine too. Man o man!

Lessons learned-I'll use the slipcover when the book takes a trip and I'll lock the truck and take the key.

One thing that hasn't been mentioned as one of the many virtues of the slipcase is that it protects the top of the spine. I have had to pass on many otherwise Fine editions of collectible books because the top of the spine binding was pulled out. My bookshelves offer very little space above the top of the book--too little to get my finger in far enough to be able to pull the book by the text block.

I have never had an example of a slipcased book with this defect.

>152 Django6924:. You know Django, I have always been curious about one thing - your library. You have been conversing about FS books, (and LEC and Heritage Club in the George Macy forums) because you do have immense knowledge about them, and I have always been interested in seeing a picture of your bookshelf.

Please forgive me if its too personal - I have just seen Mark Boyne bookshelf in another thread

> I second 153. And Django, could it be that you used to have a photo of some bookshelves in your profile?

edited to add 2 cents on topic: Also living in a damp seaside climate..ergo slipcases are just great

>129 Flack:, 144, 146

Flack, in post 129 you stated: "I do not object to the quality of FS book production...but to their publishing philosophy, which often seems to take popular books that have stood the test of time and make them into something that would make the author turn in his or her grave."

While this observation may pertain to some volumes, I must disagree adamantly with the works of the author most recently discussed, Patrick O'Brian. I have the first edition copies of his entire series. I made the purchase by mail (and am not sorry that I did so) but was shocked by the extremely poor quality of his early volumes. Master and Commander, for instance, was published very cheaply with pulp paper. The cover illustration is unimpressive at best and there are no maps or interior illustrations. The copy I have is remarkably well preserved, but it impresses me as just about the cheapest hard cover that could possibly be produced at the time.

I really believe that if O'Brian saw his works published by the FS, he would be extremely appreciative and proud. As an admirer of his work, I am so gratified to see his writings displayed in the exemplary format that they deserve.

>153 ironjaw:, >154 P3p3_Pr4ts:

I'll try to take some this week--the problem is that there are shelves and cases in every room, and there is nearly constant sorting and shuffling going on (right now I'm trying to figure out where to put Night Thoughts, which is too big for any case or shelf I currently have).

(And, no, I never had a picture of my shelves, or me, on my profile.)

>156 Django6924:

We wait with great anticipation for the Master himself to unveil his treasure :)

I too await pics of Django's collection with bated breath. I have several beautiful collections bookmarked, and would love to add this one to the list. In the interim, I'd suggest two other beautiful collections with notable FS elements: http://www.librarything.com/gallery/member/islandbooks and http://www.flickr.com/photos/7534049@N05/3329543175/in/set-72157614823167294/

As to slipcovers, I like them for reasons already mentioned: protection of the book, ease of dusting, saving the place of the book removed, etc. Too bad too, if I didn't insist on the slipcover, I'd be able to pick up some great bargains on eBay since the FS volumes widowed of their slipcover sell for only a fraction of the cost of the typical wedded pair.

Sounds like django will be capturing a moment in time of a living library. Which reminds me that I need to go shuffle mine around a bit. Best beloved's spawn are home for the summer and have disrupted my system. ;-)

>157 ironjaw: - I don't know about 'the Master' - that has some strange and slightly disturbing connotations for those familiar with British TV Sci-Fi! - perhaps a grandee.

Susan_KH Message 155

I think you are reading more into what I wrote than is justified. There is a real problem with many hardback books published today: they are terrible examples of book production. I think the US does slightly better than the UK, having lived and bought books in both places, but many books are a disgrace. Everyone can date the decline to suit themselves, but I would note that many H G Wells first editions form the early years of the last century, of which I own a number, are very poor quality indeed. I grant the the FS physical book quality is good, and that they pay attention to the text. I never said they didn't!
I stayed over the weekend with someone who collects fine editions and has an impressive library. Without trying to lead him in any way I asked what he thought of the FS, seeing that he had perhaps half a dozen of their books on his shelves. Interestingly, his one word comment was 'meretricious.' He then thought about it and added, 'they try too hard, and the result is not always pleasing.'
O'Brian (not his real name!) was an odd person. I suspect he would have been flattered to think there was a collected edition of his works. Whether he would have liked the FS eiditon none of us will ever know. You don't seem to have Dean King's 'Patrick O'Brian; A Life Revealed' in your library - worth reading.

>158 _Chris_: Chris thanks for the links.

I did not want to admit this because it sounds a bit like stalking but i actually constantly check and read Islandbooks blog. I cannot read Dutch but use the Google Translate. I do really recommend reading his blog - wealth of info and I like his travel collection and pictures. He got me into checking book auctions

>161 Flack:
I wouldn't go so far as to say they are worthless (I had to look up the meretricious: apparently attractive but having in reality no value or integrity). Everyone has their opinion and I respect that, but obviously someone who collects fine editions will eventually be in the market for potential investment (I can think of LEC here, and other private presses Golden Cockeral and Nonesuch Press) and their view would be entirely different to what the general consensus among the founder Charles Ede of FS and its members are:

Producing high-quality editions of books...in fresh designs, but at a price that was little more than that of an ordinary hardback i.e. books that would be affordable to everyone.

Yes you an buy FS books still in very fine condition for less than their retail price on the secondhand market (which is sooo great) but that does not mean they are meretricious. I buy them not as an investment but more simply the reason that they cost a bit more than normal hardbacks in which in return you get FS craftsmanship, illustrations, slipcases, archive paper so that they will still look like new when I pass my collection over to my niece when I am ready to depart off to the Big Tomato, and I usually trust the selection process by FS so I know that they have chosen books of great authors that matter.

I don't think you can compare the two and yes I think a person who collects fine editions would have different selection criteria.

FLACK: Don't take this the wrong way but can we move on from the debate of the constant negative view towards FS since your arrival here at LT and just enjoy the books.

Oh and btw I am interested in your view what you would recommend collecting since you disagree with the books by FS and the rest of us.

>162 ironjaw:

There are advanced bibliophiles as there are advanced audiophiles. By "advanced" I simply mean that someone afflicted with the advanced form of the disease can lose a bit of perspective in the quest for some Platonic "Ideal," that is, of course, impossible to be achieved. (When I caught a mild case of advanced audiophilia several years ago, I could persuade myself that there was an audible and important difference between certain brands of solid-state amplifiers and pre-amplifiers, audio cables, etc. As I got older, either I got wiser or my hearing deteriorated to where such minutiae took a rightful backseat to the enjoyment of the music itself.)

Of course the advanced bibliophile will point out rightly that presses such as the Arion, Grabhorn, and The John Henry Nash presses, and the Limited Editions Club in the USA, and The Medici Society, Golden Cockerel, Nonesuch and Gwasg Gregynog presses in the UK lavished time and money on their publications which the Folio Society only attempts to duplicate in some of their Limited Editions. However, if lavishness of presentation is your principal criteria, then only the output of private bookbinders like Sangorski & Sutcliffe is likely to satisfy you.

"Meretricious" is an adjective that never came to my mind when I think of the Folio Society's output. They are first of all a publisher for readers as opposed to book collectors, and for readers who appreciate fine design and the use of quality materials in the production of the kind of books their membership wants to READ. That doesn't mean I always agree with their choices or with the finished products--despite comments elsewhere, I still think the FS Tom Jones was a sad misfire, and despite the nonpareil production qualities, the Letterpress Shakespeare is uninspired from a design standpoint. But offsetting these few lapses (and admittedly it's just my personal point of view), I can't think of any publisher since the heyday of George Macy who has done so much to uphold the standard of fine bookmaking for the educated reader (as opposed to bibliophile). What fine press today would bring out lovely editions of works such a My Family and Other Animals, Midnight's Children, the Pax Britannica trilogy, the novels of Raymond Chandler, Barbara Pym (though they are dragging their feet on the rest of her oeuvre), Elizabeth Gaskell--well, to go on would be monotonous, but suffice it to say the range of their publishing ventures is unmatched.

As for the bibliophile who felt the Folio Society "tries too hard, and the result is not always pleasing," all I can say is that is a very strange criticism to make at a time when most book publishers don't try at all and mostly bide their time until the electronic downloadable book frees them from the responsibility of good design and costly production measures. Though the Kindle and its ilk have some undeniable advantages, their collectibility potential is on a par with fresh lettuce, and their potential for tactile and visual pleasure is nil.

>163 Django6924:

Well said. I almost voted for you as Chairman for La Société pour la promotion de la société de Folio

Actually they are not. Bindings are meant to protect the pages. FS slipcases are entirely unnecessary, as are their meretricious bindings. FS publications are not for serious book collectors (my local 2nd hand book store bears witness to that, it is full of them). They are for people with more money than sense. If you want to know how the trade values your FS books log onto Abebooks or similar and see what the trade thinks of them.
There's value and value. Some people value things purely on their monetary value, including many serious book collectors. Others have different values. If all this means that I have more money than sense in some people's eyes, then so be it, but that is purely judgemental, and judged by standards and values which I neither hold nor value myself. I enjoy FS books as they provide a good balance between price and quality. What their resale value is, or how the 'trade' values them, is neither here nor there to me - they are not bought as a financial investment (Having said that, I am comfortably in profit in terms of the FS books I have bought and resold, but that is not by design). What I like about most FS collectors I know, and the bulk of those on this forum, is that they enjoy the books for what they are, pure and simple, which are well bound, attractive (rather than "meretricious") books which are all the more enjoyable to read as a result.

Books are meant to be read, some are objects of beauty in their own right, but I value them more if it is clear that they have been used.
Values and values again! I too value mine more when I have read them, but don't put any more value on a book when it shows evidence of my having done so. Serious book collectors, of course, tend to the opposite, which is why their values are of little consequence to me.

Hiding them in slipcases is akin to buying first growth claret because it is expensive, but then never drinking it because it is an 'investment.'
Interesting analogy:I am not sure how a book is hidden when in a slipcase (surely, it doesn't make any difference if it's in a slipcase or not when on a shelf), nor how a book that is read and kept in a slipcase relates to an undrunk investment wine.

>166 Rochefoucauld: A case of mistaken identity I think!

>166 Rochefoucauld: I think Willoyd accumalated Flack's comments

>169 Rochefoucauld: You should see a pencil and an 'x' on the right-hand side of your post. The pencil allows you to edit, whilst the 'x' allows you to delete.

Poor Willoyd - his ears must be burning! I am sure he will see the lighter side.

I suggested in an earlier post that Flack was a troll and I don't resile from that. Clearly posting what he wrote on a folio book lovers' site attests to that, especially the provocative cliches (like FS buyers 'have more money than sense').

Personally, I find his attitude arrogant - in particular, the underlying implication (quoting the views of 'someone who collects fine editions and has an impressive library' - i.e. a 'real' collector) that FS book collectors are just book aficionado wannabes. Other comments here clearly indicate this is not so, most recently Django's response at #163.

For me, there's not a book in my FS collection that I don't want to read, and I find there is much more sensory pleasure in reading a Folio book, even if I have to take much more care than the typical dispensable trade publication. I don't have any FS LEs and would only likely buy Moby Dick of the present offering, even if I was not an Aussie price refusenik. I recognise that these are not appreciating assets - but the production values mean that I will also have a nice library to leave my son (who does value the quality of the books).

There was another Flack comment that the FS philosophy 'often seems to be to take popular books that have stood the test of time and make them into something that would make their author turn in his or her grave'. It's an easy shot to suggest a dead author would not like what they've done to his/her book, but there are a number of living popular authors who are very happy with what the FS has done - e.g. Rushdie, Pullman, Ishiguro - and I would rather follow the *fact* of their support than the *supposed* attitude of a dead author whose 'views' can more easily be aligned with those of the commentator because their voice has been stilled.

And finally, I make no apologies for the somewhat less genteel or civil response to the Flack posts above. Like Richard Dawkins, I think that meretricious claims and assertions need to be responded to with vigour, not timidity!

Edited to note that I obviously missed a bit of fun while I was writing the above :-)

> 174 Apparently Philip Pullman approached the Society asking them to publish an edition of His Dark Materials, so I think that indicates his attitude to the quality of FS publications.

Hi all
Looks like I missed all the fun - by the time I came back, Rochefoucauld had successfully deleted his post. Shucks. I get the gist though! Sorry if my use of italics rather than quotes caused confusion, but I'm sure I'd have understood the misunderstanding (at least I like to think I would have) - if you see what I mean!

Having almost concluded this good old fashioned pissing contest I offer the following olive branch...

Don't Rain On My Parade or, The FS Hater's Anthem

Don't tell me not to live, just sit and putter
Life's candy and the sun's a ball of butter
Don't bring around a cloud to rain on my parade
Don't tell me not to fly, I simply got to
If someone takes a spill, it's me and not you
Who told you you're allowed to rain on my parade
I'll march my band out, I'll beat my drum
And if I'm fanned out, your turn at bat, sir
At least I didn't fake it, hat, sir
I guess I didn't make it
But whether I'm the rose of sheer perfection
A freckle on the nose of life's complexion
The Cinderella or the shine apple of its eye
I gotta fly once, I gotta try once,
Only can die once, right, sir?
Ooh, life is juicy, juicy and you see,
I gotta have my bite, sir.
Get ready for me love, 'cause I'm a "comer"
I simply gotta march, my heart's a drummer
Don't bring around the cloud to rain on my parade,

I'm gonna live and live NOW!
Get what I want, I know how!
One roll for the whole shebang!
One throw that bell will go clang,
Eye on the target and wham,
One shot, one gun shot and bam!
Hey, Mr. Arnstein, here I am ...

I'll march my band out, I will beat my drum,
And if I'm fanned out, your turn at bat, sir,
At least I didn't fake it, hat, sir,
I guess I didn't make it
Get ready for me love, 'cause I'm a "comer"
I simply gotta march, my heart's a drummer
Nobody, no, nobody, is gonna rain on my parade!

Revulsion to Streisand...isn't there a law against that??

>181 Rochefoucauld:

Correction, M. Rochefoucauld: the correct quote is "the law is a ass--a idiot."

(In all honesty, I have to agree with you regarding la Streisand--though she possesses an incredible voice, she uses it like a broadaxe on the songs in her repertoire. This is what my personal favorite, Janet Klein, calls the "gladiatorial" style of singing, and I have to say I find it more suitable for the arena than the theater or the movies. But I admit you and I are very much in the minority..."we few, we happy few...."

>179 Rochefoucauld:, 182

Incredible voice? Incredibly annoying, more like. I feel itchy just *thinking* about Streisand. (One could say that I, too, possess a preternatural revulsion to her). Babs' voice is thin and nasally and she wields it with all the grace of a bull in a china shop.

I will never forget what a high school classmate said during our production of "Hello, Dolly!" - "I would love to buy a soundtrack for this show, but the only choices are the Barbra Streisand version, which makes puppies weep, or that bleating goat Carol Channing. Ugh!" Ever since, I've found the idea of puppies weeping at Streisand's voice to be both amusing and spot-on.

A shame because "Don't Rain on My Parade" IS a lovely song. Anyone know of a good version?

>161 Flack:

Regarding Flack's recommendation to read Dean King's "Patrick O'Brian; A Life Revealed"...

I am aware that there is published information about Patrick O'Brian's life, and that this is indeed not his real name. However, I am generally reluctant to read this type of material. I prefer to let the author's work speak for itself. Sometimes I am disappointed when I find out various facts about an author's life, and it can lessen my enjoyment of his/her work.

Having said this, I will admit to reading biographies of Austen, the Brontes, Coleridge, Dickenson, etc. But more current biographies seem oftentimes to reflect the views of detractors who have an ax to to grind for one reason or another, and I'd rather not spend my time getting distracted with these negative issues. I prefer to re-read and enjoy the author's works.

>185 toodlessm: Max Hastings has written the introduction to the FS edition of Master and Commander. He summarises the main facts about O'Brian's life and deceptions in a few pages, and does not let those facts - unappealing though they are - obscure a proper appraisal of O'Brian's achievement. I read King's book some years ago, and I certainly wouldn't recommend it if you don't enjoy such stuff (it's not particularly good even of its type), but I do think you shouldn't avoid the Hastings introduction - it is overall a most sympathetic and admiring introduction to O'Brian, and refreshingly robust about the relationship between an author's life and work.

Having read the unprovoked, self-indulgent and offensive comments posted by Flack above, I have got to admit that I have been surprised by the stimulating, compelling, enlightened, instructive and humorous way in which the people on this forum have responded. Even if I wasn't interested in The Folio Society I would still visit this group to enjoy the absorbing debate and admire the gracious way in which participants respond.

>185 toodlessm:, 186 et al. Nikolai Tolstoy's Patrick O'Brian, The Making of the Novelist gives, I think, a more balanced and informed view on O'Brian's life. You must note though, that Tolstoy is O'Brian's stepson.

>188 justjim: Less critical of O'Brian's earlier personal life, certainly, but better balanced? I'm not so sure about that - the family relationship is an important barrier to objectivity.

Bravo - celtic. My thoughts exactly. I enjoy the lively debate and disagreements that have been very graciously taken.

I notice that Flack seems to have exited the debate, as his troll status has been marked and noted. Unkind words taken by all in a gentile and forgiving way. I also lurk in this group a lot.

The days, as Bukowski say, "run away like wild horses over the hills." So far I only have the following to post--the shelves on the south wall of my living room.

http://s585.photobucket.com/albums/ss295/Django6924/SouthWallShelves/

Still to come a small barrister bookcase in the bedroom--containing some of the finest of my collection, the east and North walls of the living room--containing the greatest quantity of books, especially of Folio Society books, and the family room--containing about a third of my shelved collection. The oversized art books--and Night Thoughts and the complete Pepys Diary--are in the cabinets underneath the posted pictures (along with the electronic gear).

>191 Django6924: My warmest congratulations. For the books. But also for a solution in which so many of them do not feel oppressive at all- in particular in a hot climate)

> 191

Fantastic collection and beautifully housed. Thanks for posting.

> 191

Thank you. Very nicely organized and neat. Congratulations!

Nice photos there. I spotted Rob Roy by Scott: Nice FS Example.

how i can read the books on this website? why i only see the cover of the books? why i can't read the content?

LibraryThing is not a book storage site. It is a site for us to catalog (make a list) of the books we own, have read, want to read, want to own, etc. And just to be different, some people catalog non-book items.

If you want to read the books, you have a few options. Use your local library to check out the books, buy a copy from Amazon.com, another website, or your favorite bookstore, or use one or more of the swap sites to trade books you don't want for books you do want, along with other possibilities not mentioned here.

Some of the older books which are now public domain can be found online at http://www.gutenberg.org http://www.archive.org and other websites.

>191 Django6924: wow, just wow that is a beautiful collection. There are many volumes I would like to know the names off in the pictures

There are too many comments on my own remarks to reply to each individually. So here is as good as I can do on a roundup. Apologies for any typos, just had minor surgery and can't use one hand properly.

I appreciate that there are many reasons for collecting FS books. but I stick to my view that they are meretricious, in the dictionary sense of that word, as they are sold at a high price, which they do not really justify. The arbiter of this is the market. A survey of the current listings on eBay UK showed an average asking price of about 10 pounds ($15) for FS books, actual transaction price usually less. I absolutely accept that to a book collector value is not necessarily monetary. I treasure many of my own books for reasons that have nothing to do with what I paid for them, or what they are worth on the market today.

I should repeat that the FS can produce good work - an example is the complete Trollope edited by David Skilton which they did for the Trollope Society. These uniform volumes, in a sober brown, with the original illustrations, compare very favourably to the rather gaudy versions of the same books put out by the FS under its own imprint. Same text: different book. I prefer the Trollope Society's version, but others may not.

It is probably accepted by all contributing to this discussion that many hardbacks put out today are of awful quality. The physical quality seems to be even worse in the UK than in the USA I don't know why. If this is accepted, then where do you go for the books you want? A first port of call for me is the University Presses. Oxford, for example, do a good
Charles Dickens, and I have a fine Zodiac Jane Austen. I also think the Bodley Head are good (Scott Fitzgerald, Jack London, inter alia).

I tend to look in second hand shops, or haunt Abe Books, until I see what I want. Sometimes it takes a while, but part of the pleasure of books is the serendipitous moment (like the time I found a first edition 'Orlando's Room' for next to nothing while looking for an HG Wells.)

I have FS books on my shelves, and the fact that I am prepared to buy the whole Aubrey/Maturin series from the FS shows, I hope, that for me the text comes first. If FS are the best thing going, then it is the FS for me, no quibbling. I just don't see myself becoming a lifelong member and buying lots of their books, because they are too expensive.

As far as biographies of O'Brian go I agree that Dean King's is less than wonderful. But it is also, as far as I know, the only shot anyone independent of O'Brian has made. Good biographies usually take a while to appear, and I am sure we will see more professional attempts than King's in the next few years.

The word 'flack,' for those who don't know, means 'publicity agent' according to the Oxford Dictionary of Slang. In my case the word is used ironically. the word 'troll,' according to the Oxford American Dictionary, means 'a mythical, cave-dwelling being depicted in folklore either as a giant or a dwarf, typically having a very ugly appearance.' I'll pass on the last part but am of normal size. All in all I'll stick with flack.

Apologies for ruffling so many feathers. If any of you shows up in the county of Wiltshire (for American or Australian readers, we are 100 miles west of London and most travellers don't stop here except to use the restrooms) we can enjoy a pint of Wadworths at the Bear and, hopefully, find we have far more in common than we disagree over.

>191 Django6924:

I am so jealous. :)

Flack, If Wadworth's still brew Farmer's Glory then I'll see you there.

> 201

Me too. I will gladly bring some Folio volumes and continue the debate over a pint or two.

>191 Django6924:

A beautiful collection! I can really appreciate all the effort that you put into collecting the volumes and arranging them so well (again and again) over the years. Congratulations and thanks for sharing the pictures with us.

The zoom in isn't sufficient; I want to peruse (and droll) each volume especially the LECs.

Gorgeous collection Django!!

>191 Django6924: Lovely library, it makes me want to shift my focus to collecting more Heritage Press editions.

Alas, Farmer's Glory is not listed on the Wadworth web site, and I have not seen it in the pubs, but I tend to drink 6X so may not have noticed it. One of their brewers lives next door, I'll ask him.

> 206. It may well have been a special brew that they just produced for the Pompey Beerex festival in the late eighties - '87 maybe.

-207

Dunno. I'll find out. But there have been references to it this year.

Seems to be still around
http://www.ratebeer.com/beer/wadworth-farmers-glory/120984/

>191 Django6924: I envy you your elegant shelving, Django, not to mention an awesome collection. I look forward to a glimpse of the rest in due course.

>199 Flack: Flack, now that you have fleshed out your earlier, somewhat challenging remarks, I actually agree with many of the things you say. However, I don't think the cost of most standard FS books is excessive (unless, of course, you live in Australia), given the high prices of the kind of poor quality hardbacks on offer in the real world. In any case, as you rightly point out, many Folio books can be bought on the secondhand market in good condition. Perhaps this is the way to go, if you can be sure of the condition of the books offered.

I, too, buy a good many OUP books, and have the Oxford Illustrated Dickens (excellent) and the Oxford Jane Austen, but nowadays I tend to go for critical editions, eg Clarendon Dickens and Clarendon George Eliot, which are ridiculously expensive at £100-£150 a volume for a medium-quality hardback. The Yale editions of Boswell cost about the same, but, of course, that's my choice and the pricing of academic books is really another question. I have managed to get some of these secondhand, for less money but still in mint condition. Also, the OUP Summer Sale can be good if they happen to have something I'm looking for.

I have Barchester Towers in a Zodiac Press edition. I like these a lot, but then along came the Trollope Society. I also prefer these more understated volumes, largely because I never cared much for the Folio illustrations. The Trollope Society also printed the travel books in the same style (different colour), which is a bonus.

So, in conclusion, yes, it pays to shop around.

>209 affle: I saw that, but it is not listed on Wadworth's own website. And our local doesn't have it.

>210 boldface: Our local 2nd hand bookstore has lots of FS books, but they also have other enticing books, which I tend to go for.

For preference I would rather have the book in my hand than buy it unseen. Having said that I often buy books over the internet (and have sold them that way too), without major problems so far.

The Trollope Society not only did the travel books but the short stories as well. I am not enamoured of the bindings of the short stories though. The FS was not involved, as far as I know, in these books, which were put out by Omnium Publishing (Pickering & Chatto) for the TS.

The OUP has great sales, I agree. Well worth looking out for.

>212 supercell: Interesting. But the comparison should be with the discounted price at which other hardbacks are usually available, or with the relative price of 2nd hand FS books relative to other 2nd hand versions of the same book. I am not sure where that comparison would end up with FS vis a vis other books. After all, these days, one seldom pays list price for anything, and I think that my remarks earlier were based on that assumption.

I am not sure I know of any shady second hand booksellers. Inept, incompetent, inefficient yes, but not shady. Are they a problem in Finland?

This small bookcase contains some of my prize finds--the LEC editions of War and Peace, Gargantua and Pantagruel, Masters' Spoon River Anthology signed by the poet, The Grapes of Wrath signed by the illustrator, Thomas Hart Benton, Sinclair Lewis' Main Street signed by the illustrator, Grant Wood, the Arion Press edition of Call it Sleep, signed by the author, Henry Roth, a very fascinating edition of Adventures of an African Slaver signed by the illustrator, Miguel Covarrubias, and a limited edition of Tristram Shandy from the glory days of the George G. Harrap publishing company--as well as a few others that I am very fond of:

http://s585.photobucket.com/albums/ss295/Django6924/BedroomBookcase/

Hope to take pictures of the largest shelving unit tomorrow--it involves moving furniture so I may not make it until Saturday.

Lovely books, Django. Keep the pictures coming!

I don't know which is lovelier, the books or the case.

> 199

I'm sure many of your points in the most clinical or literal sense of the words are salient.

For me though Folio books are unlikely to be weighed up on just the pricing of course. Just like one doesn't weigh up his granny and decide if your mother's mother is giving you enough sherbet bonbons on a Saturday when she visits, so sometimes it will be just one illustration or a particularly well rounded set that for you subjectively just fits the bill nicely.

My new FS edition of Kidnapped, being one of the Stevenson set, just happens to be one of my favourite Folios. It has excellent illustrations which for me completely keep in style with the novel and the margin space, the cover.... in fact everything about the book makes it priceless. The price is an afterthought, but it just happens to be good value for money too.

Love is blind!

>218 LesMiserables: unfortunately, it's only myopic for me - it's got enough resolving power to see the credit card bill :O

>201 HuxleyTheCat:

Wadworths stopped brewing Farmers' Glory about ten years ago. They just reintroduced it last week, and it is gradually being rolled out to their 250 or so pubs. The Crown in Devizes (almost part of the brewery) should have it next week. It was described as being in the 6X class of brew, but a little more alcoholic (4.7%).

>218 LesMiserables:

I recall when I was 8 years old saving up money for months so that I could purchase a beautifully illustrated hard cover volume of Little Women that I saw in a book store at the mall. I read it over and over, treasuring it for years.

Things haven't changed much.

I've got a lot more money than I did at 8 years of age, but I still cherish beautifully bound books written by authors I admire.

> 220 Excellent news, thankyou. I shall have to seek some out and see if it tickles the taste-buds in the same way that it did 25 years ago.

> 218

All of those Folio Stevenson volumes are lovely books, beautifuly produced, including the two short story volumes. My Folio editions of Stevenson are one of the highpoints of my fiction collection.

Django, I've greatly enjoyed seeing your collection. I hope the additional promised pictures are only temporarily delayed.

>224 _Chris_:

Yes, delay due to work, son's pneumonia--he's well now--and frustration at trying to take sharp pictures without using a flash (I finally gave up on that). My problem is that I have positioned the shelves so they get no direct sunlight, except for a very short period when the sun angle is less than 5 degrees off the horizon. Anyway, here is the second installment of books in the living room--a few more shelves in that room (small ones), and I will start on the family room.

http://s585.photobucket.com/albums/ss295/Django6924/LivingRoom_east_bookshelves/

so neat!

>225 Django6924: Wow, thanks Django - those pics of your library are gorgeous. (I really love being able to read the titles of the books too!)

>225 Django6924:: Great pics, Django! On picture 12, who is the publisher of the books on the top shelf? I don't recognize the style of those bindings.

>225 Django6924:

Huh. My tea tastes funny. Oh, wait - that's just the bitter flavor of major book envy :)

225: Thank you my friend, that was beyond delicious. Shall put off until later this evening to slowly, lovingly, review each and every title.

Absolutely beautiful Django, one could make a book screensaver just to chill..with these pics

Thanks for your collaborative effort. Very impressive collection. The Franklin Library volumes are outstanding!

>228 mboudreau:

Those books are the very first set of Complete Hemingway issued by Easton Press--about 20 years ago. When they reissued all of Hemingway's works in the past few years, they changed the binding to a uniform dull brown, as you see in the book on the far right, True at First Light, which hadn't been published when I bought the original set.

edited for typo

Ooooo Book party at Django's house.

A superb collection, Django, and shelved beautifully. It's good to see so many fine editions all together, unadulterated by "normal" books!

Here's a new patch and repair problem. I recently bought the LEC Orestia and the slip case is fine but sun faded, as in someone had it on the end of a book case with several square holes which created square faded spots. Being that the case is OK, is it possible to re-dye or stain the paper in a way that won't rub off and do more damage? It's original color was burgundy. Any suggestions?

edited because I can't type

Tricky, tricky, tricky. You'll never get the spots to match the same color and value. You can stain the whole thing darker and have a better shot, but I'd either leave it as is, or carefully remove the spine label, recover the entire slipcase with new paper, and replace the label.

I enjoy the Folio Society slipcases as part of the whole experience of reading a Folio Society book - the slightly tricky removal of the slipcase (I prefer the gravity-assisted method described by Osbaldistone in message 41) leading to the book itself being slowly revealed, still bright and in perfect condition for me to admire before being opened so that I can stroke the beautiful paper...

I do so much reading that I genuinely don't notice when dusting needs done, and when I recently moved some books to a new bookcase I was shocked by the dust that had accumulated on the top edges. My FS book slipcases were easily cleaned with a quick wipe, but an early collection of Walter Scott books had suffered a lot, and even after some careful attention do not look as good as they once did.

I did once think of throwing out the slipcase to The Leopard, as I accidentally stood on it and damaged it rather severely, but I couldn't quite bring myself to do the deed.

Last night I mentioned the discussion on slipcases to my 15 year old, who told me that he has to sit on his FS King James Bible in order to compact it enough to fit back into the slipcase.

He does keep his FS books in the slipcases, but his view is that he is sure he causes more damage to his books when trying to get them back into the slipcases than they would suffer left uncovered on the shelf.

>237 Django6924:
If I were going to recover an entire slipcase, I'd probably consider cloth.

Os.

What type of cloth would be a good choice? Obviously it would have to be thin.

>240 Osbaldistone:

Interesting concept, Os.--I've never ever seen a cloth-bound slipcase; cloth-bound solander boxes, but not slipcases. I don't know why, other than expense, that wouldn't work. The type of cloth would be an issue--most of the bookbinding cloth I have seen available comes backed with paper, but I'm sure that there must be suitable non-backed fabrics.

I will say again what I mentioned once in another thread. My late wife recovered a broken and fragile slipcase with Japanese mulberry paper, and, 30+ years later, it still looks like new. I have seen some very nice burgundy mulberry paper available online.

>242 Django6924: - "I've never ever seen a cloth-bound slipcase"

I have. The original FS (or, more precisely, Folio Press) publication of Les Miserables comes in a very handsome coarse canvas covered slipcase. However, I agree that it is anomalous.

>242 Django6924:

It never dawned on me that it was rare to have a cloth bound slip case but you're right most of my slip cased books are paper. I did find exceptions though, primarily for larger art type books. The Limited Edition of The Song of Songs with illuminations and commentary by Debra Band (published by the JPS) has a lovely green cloth slip case and a signed print by the artist as well. Taschen's two volume remake of Matisse Jazz also has a nice cloth covered slip case. The University of California's four volume (1/4 bound in leather) copy of the Codex Mendoza has a particularly course fabric slip case, to cite a few examples.

I wonder if it would be a concern that the fabric on the slipcase that folds into the inside might rub too stringently on the fabric of the book when it is placed in or pulled out of the slipcase, causing a slight abrasion on the book. I suppose it would be ok if the slipcase is fairly loose.

In the early 1990s it was not uncommon for Folio to use cloth for the slipcases of sets. I have in cloth the Brontes, Austen, Wilkie Collins, Folio Shakespeare, and Pax Britannica (top/bottom)-I'm sure many of you have some of these as well.

My Austen slipcase is cloth and the current Roberts LE is cloth. I've got a small number of non-folio slipcased books that are cloth and some photographic books where the 'norm' for the slipcase covering appears to be cloth.

It sounds like the Society used cloth for the slipcases for heavy volumes or sets. My sets are all paper-covered, however, so perhaps this is no longer the case due to changing economic considerations. Does anyone have a quarto-sized or smaller FS book where the slipcase is cloth?

I have an inkling that the slipcase of the big books of Art in Florence is cloth-covered but I don't have it here so can't check.

>250 overthemoon:

The top and bottom of Art in Florence is cloth but the sides are paper. My Austen set is paper. None of my smaller Folio volumes/sets have a cloth slipcase.

>249 Django6924: "It sounds like the Society used cloth for the slipcases for heavy volumes or sets."

A quick shuffle round the shed has revealed that I have no individual-volume cloth-covered slipcase on a standard book from the Folio Society, except Edward Gibbon's Atlas of the World (1991) which is a fairly tall book.

I do have a few sets with cloth-covered slipcases and these all date from the 1990s:

1991: Bronte novels, 7-vol. set;
1992: Wilkie Collins novels, 4-vol.set;
1993: Vasari, Lives of the Artists (1993), 3 vol. set;
1996: Graham Greene novels, 6-vol. set; BUT NOT Brighton Rock (1997) which is a single volume with the same binding;
1997 (my copy: 1999 reprint): The Bible, 2-vol. set, cloth on top and bottom only.

If, by Art in Florence, overthemoon and kdweber, you mean The Art of Florence, this is not, of course, a Folio book. Many books offered by FS but not published by them, e.g., Oxford dictionaries, Times Atlas, etc., not to mention FS LEs like Johnson's Dictionary, have come in cloth-covered slipcases.

Yes, I mean the Art of Florence.

>116 Flack: Dear Flack - what an appropriate identity, do have a jacket? I have been able to build a very nice library inhabited with books I read and re-read, not only are they well designed and crafted, they actually look interesting on the shelf with the many differences in binding designs and color. The paper is wonderful to feel and the typography well chosen. The only books that surpass the Folio Society are those from the true private presses. I have a few of those, expensive but wonderful books - I could not afford to build a library buying this type of book. A true "serious" book collector would be much too courteous to make this type of crass remark. Building a private library - no matter what type (I know of a fellow that has hundreds of different copies of Three Years Before the Mast - amazing and wonderful), as I was saying building a private library as most people on librarything are doing is an admirable and rewarding pursuit. I freely admit I do not possess the knowledge to become a true antiquarian book collector nor the monetary resources to buy only rare 1st editions (that usually cannot be read) but I love to read and the folio society has enabled me to pursue that within my resources. Regards, Hewitt

> A late but excellent contribution. I believe it encapsulates how most, if not all, of the members of this group feel about their libraries.

Speaking of Two Years Before the Mast, a former colleague of mine has a signed first edition given to him by his mother, who inherited it from hers. I in turn gave him an LOA editon and advised him to put the signed edition in his safe deposit vault.

>256 Texaco:

I have both the original Heritage Press Two Years Before the Mast (a gem) as well as the later LEC with different illustrations; and had many years ago, (but foolishly sold), a well-worn edition illustrated by Edward A. Wilson and printed by the Lakeside Press (within a few years of their famous Rockwell Kent-illustrated Moby Dick. I sold the Lakeside edition because I had just purchased what is still my favorite edition--the 2 volume set published by The Ward Ritchie Press (headquartered right in my hometown of Pasadena, CA.). This set includes material the original publisher of the work deleted as it "failed to live up to a high moral tone." It is the most complete Dana, and easily the most attractive I've seen (but I still wish I kept the Lakeside Press edition.)

Django I wish you'd write a book about your books, your anecdotes are amazing and I enjoy them immensely.

Having 'failed to live up to a high moral tone', I shall most definitely be on the look-out for the Ward Richie Press edition of Two Years Before the Mast.

Thank you Django!!

Actually I too agree with Texaco. You have to write a book, then we can get it beautifully published. You posses such an immense knowledge that you owe it to yourself.

258&259 are right on the mark. Your love of books comes through in you're encyclopaedic knowledge and the enthusiasm and generosity you exhibit in taking the time and effort to share it with the rest of us.

<258, 259, 260

Thank you all! I'll do it as soon as I can get a publisher agree to print it!

Hm, looks like Django has been flattered into speechlessness!

Too compelling as usual Django. I just ordered the The Ward Richie Press edition of Two Years Before the Mast.

>262 beatlemoon:

Flattered, yes! Speechless...surely you jest?

No, I did reply, but my post disappeared into the void. I said I'd love to write that book as soon as I find a publisher willing to print it.

264, Django we'd private print it based upon design elements of your favorite acquisitions; we'd present the prototype and sell it (pre-pay only; limited edition of 100) via this forum.

Whaddaya say???!!!

>265 Texaco:

What would the target price be?

And will the price depend on the country? *ducks*

> 267

Yes. The UK gets a special local price (to avoid expensive credit card transaction fees) of +40% on top of what everyone is paying.

;-)

266 - Django the target price would be $500, which may not allow you to do everything you like in as far as design, but would at least allow letterpress, with all other things being completely up to your imagination!!

267/268 - LMAO!!!

Definitely Letterpress, now who is going to be Django's manager and extortionate him for 40% fee? Anyone of the lawyers here Quicksiler, Appaloosaman?

>269 Texaco:

$500 is too low a price for a volume that would have a limitation of only 100. The current LEC limitation is 300, I believe, which brings the average price per volume to something over $1500. You'd have to charge at least $2500 for the enterprise to be profitable.

Could have it printed in the Peoples Republic and therefore avoid the high price. Of course there might be some difficulties with quality control. On second thought maybe NOT!

Okay, well I'm game and $1,500, with a 300 limitation, it is because anything Django produces is going to be stunning and I want one!!

Django what genre would it be; I say classic horror as it never loses its appeal and would be sought after for centuries.

>273 Texaco:

The book would be about George Macy and his legacy--far from classic horror, although tinged with melancholy because the institution he created was not able to survive without him (and Helen Macy).

Sometimes I wonder if the Folio Society would be what it is today without the model provided by the LEC and the Heritage Press.

> 274

I would buy that in a heartbeat, Django.

> 270

Of course, and for a friend like Django my fee would only be a modest 60% of his profits.

>275 Quicksilver66:

And me Quicksilver!

I would buy it too Django. Maybe the horror scene could be incorporated in the end of the demise of the LEC. Include some pictures also. Make it a private press in letterpress with page stating it was specially commissioned for the members of FS Devotees. Include a picture of the author and small biographical note.

>275 Quicksilver66:

Quicksilver66, I wouldn't dream of imposing on your friendship!

>277 ironjaw:

ironjaw, there would have to be illustrations throughout of the most important/beautiful books of the presses, the designers and illustrators who were important to the LEC (Bruce Rogers, W.A. Dwiggins, E.A. Wilson, Miguel Covarrubias, Thomas Hart Benton, Sylvain Sauvage, etc.), and, if they can be found, pictures of the LEC offices, the press they bought and used for special publications--including the most famous LEC, the Matisse-illustrated Ulysses--and from some of the special events they held for members and friends.

It would, in fact, be a very heavily-illustrated book!

274: George Macy of course indeed, I recall some comments Sid Schiff made in regards to Helen Macy and the demise of the LEC. Now was she responsible for selling the rights to Easton Press? The other thing is whether you are in possession of an LEC anniversary edition celebrating George Macy and his accomplishments. I too have an article (somewhere) Sid sent regarding Geo Macy.

I simply cannot imagine that no one has written about Macy before, that would be splendid Django!!!

I'm serious I think we can get this project started if we get enough people here interested and "signed up" so that we know at least how many would definitely buy. I suggest Django you should make a seperate topic for this. It might take a year or two or three but at least at some point this can be a reality.

I do think if we can search here this being LT there is a lot of help for a first time publishing. Maybe we can get generous soul to bind the book at a reduced commission or cost.

> 278

I am getting quite desperate to see this book, you have totally whetted my appetite. I recently bought the Easton Press Grapes of Wrath with lithographs by Thomas Hart Benton - fantastic, both he and Steinbeck were American originals.

Django could devote a page to each edition (from 1929 onwards) and use the Sandglass as his reference material.

He would also of course, personally inscribe each edition to his fellow Devotees.

Honestly, I would not buy Folio Society books without the slipcases. A slipcase and the artwork are what separate their books from other hardcover books. It adds protection and distinction in the absence of gilded edges.

I've recently received a huge and heavy book from Taschen on the history of DC comics. Its title: 75 Years of DC Comics. I thought it needed a slipcase and none was provided, so I decided to modify the packing box that was used for shipping. Cardboard, glue, some red paint and a lot of patience produced the following results. The bottom of the slipcase has a support for the text block. I'm pretty happy with my homemade slipcase!

Wow you did a wonderful job with that!!!!

I'll second that! What a beautiful slipcase you've fashioned!

Slipcases? I have absolutely no problem with them. OK, they take a little extra space on the bookshelf, most of them are "ugly" but as I often read my books "on the move", the slipcase is surely a useful extra.

>284 drasvola::

It's especially impressive given the size of the book!

How is the book? Neil Gaiman had some lovely things to say about it and I'd be interested to hear a second opinion!

Wow - I am very impressed with the crafted slipcase. Was the box that size or did it need cutting down.

Looks beautiful. My only worry would be the acidic nature of the cardboard.

Superbly done. You might get some commissions with results such as those!

Drasvola that is beautiful work and you've inspired me to (attempt) 'slipcase' my Taschen books!

Thank you all for your kind remarks.

As to the contents of the book, believe Gaiman. He's the authority to listen to. I haven't had a chance to get yet into the gist of the book, what with all the attention given to the slipcase! The printing of the book is outstanding, many photographs and reproductions. Fold-out sections with timelines explaining the development of the medium. The usual division into "ages." It is flashy in many cases but this agrees with the subject matter. As a reference work, Levitz has done a thorough job... all 6.7 kilos of it!

Regarding my handiwork, I didn't have to do any major cutting down. Basically I cut off one of the end panels to have access and then I had to reinforce the top and bottom (with a styrofoam insert) and glue everything together since it was held up with tabs. I lined the inside with heavy paper (the type used for school projects). Scraps from the side panel were used to make the inside support for the text block. The front edges of the slipcase are covered with adhesive paper. The unit is actually very strong and rigid.

Quite probably the materials are not the very best for archival purposes but that's not what I had in mind. I just thought that the shipping box was attractive enough to recycle it.

Oh, and sorry, I'm not accepting any commissions...

I love the slipcases. They look good on the shelf, and they are one of the (many) things that sets a Folio book apart from others. I'd be sorely disappointed if the FS ever stopped producing them. No slipcase was a reason I didn't order the Founding Fathers books for my renewal offer. Also, if I buy a FS book from ABE Books, I don't get one if it doesn't have a slipcase. I feel the Folio books are naked without them!!

So do ALL the folio books (apart from those originating from other publishers) have slipcases. I just received a lovely Oscar Wilde FS book with silk covers and no slipcase, published in 1957. The Abe seller said nothing about the lack of a slipcover.

I have had this happen a few times with more recently published books, so now I always ask if there is one when I buy. Slipcovers are essential for me.

Slipcases were not the norm in the earliest days of the FS - they were introduced around 1955 and fairly quickly (by the end of the 50s) became the standard way that the Society issued their books.

I believe that Wilde's Salome was issued with a slipcase. I agree with you, and ask every time if a seller does not mention a slipcase. I also use Avery's Catalogue of Folio Society Used Book Prices - although I am not overly guided by the price, it is handy to see what format a book was published in. (And also, of course, Folio 60 - Avery's is a lot cheaper though!)

I confirm that Salome has a slipcase.

I've been a Folio member since the 1980s, and the only books I have which lack slipcases are Poems by Edward Thomas, a letterpress edition that was issued without one, and The Great Enterprise, a 1978 history of the Spanish Armada. Whether that came with a slipcase and I lost it I don't recall, but I wonder how I could have quickly lost one slipcase out of the 150 or 200 I own.

>298 coynedj: The Great Enterprise had a glassine wrapper.

>299 overthemoon: - Ah, so it's the glassine wrapper that I lost. Thanks - I've long wondered about that.

I do wish that I could get slipcases for those that are missing them, and a few non Folios that I want to preserve. Does anyone know of a place that makes them to order?

Thanks for the info about Salome - another Abe purchase not quite right but however it is still lovely with its silk covers.

Speaking of glassines, I have several books that had them and although the books were fine the glassines were terribly torn and dirty they made the books look bad, so I threw them out. Where can you get new glassine wrappers? I imagine I would have to cut them to size. Thanks.

>301 kiwidoc:

This topic came up before (on this thread?), and there is a place that makes them, but the charge is usually more than the price of the book. Some have made their own and one example posted here made by drsvola is better than any slipcases I've gotten from Folio!

>302 varielle:

varielle, an art supply store should have glassine. Online Utrecht sells it by the rolls. I'd by the 100 yard roll if you are thinking of wrapping your books because the damned stuff is not very durable. If you take your book out of the slipcase a few times you'll have to replace it. Here's a link for Utrecht's product:

http://www.utrechtart.com/dsp_view_products.cfm?classID=1721&subclassID=1721...

I sniffed around a few art stores without success and forgot about your link above. I've put in an order at www.dickblick.com and supposedly will have them by the 12th. I'll let you know how it comes out.

I'm sure it will be spectacular! Every time I see those marbled papers I want to replace a lot of my battered slipcases--just need the time.

I've always liked slipcases but now I LOVE them. As I was dipping some Nan into the yogurt sauce, my evil cat flipped over my plate and yogurt splattered all over some of my nicest books, including my limited edition The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam. Luckily, the slipcases perfectly protected my books (and the buckram spines wipe off easily). I've now moved those books out of striking distance. This happened last month, but I've only now recovered from the shock of it to write about it ;).

>306 Tanglewood:

Yogurt dip? And to think beatlemoon was chaffing me over my mince tarts!

>307 Django6924:

And I hold my position. Go on. If your tarts are so book-friendly, I dare you to eat one while reading Night Thoughts.

I received my first bunch of books from Folio recently and I don't like the slipcases. They looked strange on the bookcase. I took them off and have them stored away in a closet. Kind of want to throw them away but they might come in handy one day. Who knows

I actually find them a Godsend. Believe they will protect your books from dust and in 20 years from now your FS books will look new.

> 309

Once you've got a couple of shelves of FS books, you'll soon get used to the slipcases. They stop the books slipping sideways on a less-than-full shelf and some of them have titles and illustrations on them. They are, in short, an essential part of the package (pace Quicksilver, who, if I remember correctly, also has (or had) issues with them). (Sorry, too many brackets.)

>309 Beanus:. Beanus
I think that FS books look fabulous on a bookcase. See this photo:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/warwick_carter/8227662147/in/photostream

>313 wcarter: oh you have little carpets over the tops of your books, are they home-made? I have books laid sideways on top of my books.

>315 overthemoon: overthemoon
Barbara, I have felt backed vinyl strips the depth of the shelf on top of all my books to protect them from dust damage (they also protect the slipcases that protect the books).
It is an idea that I saw in a beautiful old library in France many years ago (although there the strips were leather) and adopted and they have protected my book for about 30 years, so that most still look like new.
I bought the felt backed vinyl from a two metre wide roll at a local haberdasher, then cut the required depth and length of strip to fit every shelf in the library.

> 312

That’s right - and I am still have ambiguous feelings about them. Great for protecting the books - but they hide the bindings and make them look dull and heavy as well. I have been tempted to adopt the solution used by Beanus in 309 above - but then I will have to find the space to store hundreds of slipcases. I imagine it will also be difficult to find the matching slipcase for the book when you want to.

>316 wcarter: what an excellent idea; I shall put felt-backed vinyl on my shopping list. But it would involve a lot of re-organizing because the top level of my books is more rugged than yours.

Beanus, it's clearly a matter of taste, but it appears a considerable majority prefer the aesthetic of the slipcase, and Eclectic is quite correct in saying that you can lose half the value at resale. I know that sounds odd considering the relative substance of a book and a slipcase, but the Folio Society themselves at one of their MR archive Sales had a slipcased silk-bound volume of the Dante's Inferno at £20 and an unslipcased one at £10 in the same condition! Most second hand booksellers show similar reductions - the collectability is so reduced. However, if you don't like them, there are second hand bargains for you out there!

Personally I love them, especially ones which are beautifully designed (Folio 50, Paradise Lost, Faust, Dubliners, Lost City of the Incas, etc. etc., and those are just standard non-LEs!) and I think they look handsome ranged together in a bookcase. They certainly keep the books in superb condition. I don't feel the need to protect the tops of the slipcases themselves from dust - that's a little OTT for me! - but I do protect the exposed upper horizontal surface of unslipcased hardbacks.

I've often wondered how easy or difficult it would be to make my own slipcases, of the same strength and quality as Folio ones (bar one or two very early FS slipcases which seem to have had the strength of cornflake packets) - not only for prized non-Folio hardbacks, but for those occasional dirt-cheap, naked Folio volumes shivering in second hand bookshops. But then that process would probably take days or weeks to organise and perfect, and eat too greedily into valuable reading time!

> 316

I was initially quite taken with your felt toppings, but do you have to wash them periodically or is beating and shaking sufficient?

Beanus... please keep your slipcases; these are such an integral element of what makes FS so special. I have as many of my FS behind glass as well as keeping the slipcases. As someone who buys on the secondary market I now seldom buy FS books if they are lacking the case. Many years ago I acquired the first 24 volumes of the Rhodesiana Reprint society and here the previous owner had stripped off the dust wrappers.. horror.. still bought them but I notice that over the decades they did fade slightly whereas the dw in tact on the later 12 volumes kept the more recent acquisitions perfect. I like the idea of the felt strips but one must set about making them... a bit like the felt covers for ivory piano keys. It is a good dust protector but did the creepy crawlies not also fancy a nibble over time?

> 313
Beautiful book pictures. Do you have any concerns about shelving heavy Limited Editions such as Moby Dick and Holkham Bible vertically? I have them stacked on the floor horizontally, but the stack has become so high and heavy, that in and of itself might be doing more long-term damage. Not sure the solander boxes were meant to support a dozen limited editions on top of them.

What do others do? I know this has been discussed before, but my thinking on this has certainly evolved, so I wouldn't mind revisiting it.

FS Moby Dick, FS Metamorphoses, and Letterpress Shakespeare are all shelved vertically. No problem here

> 322

I store mine flat, Sean, the same as you. I think this must be better because some of these LE’s are so heavy that they are bound to sag over time. However, I would store no more than three solander boxes on top of each other - they are very heavy.

> 323

Good to know yours are not sagging, Faisel. I would really prefer to store mine vertically but I am worried about sag.

If you do have worries David, I have been contemplating visiting a bookbinder and taking one of the heavier volumes with to make a book support for it, it shouldn't cost much. It looks something like this for the Franklin Library Arabian Nights, trans. by Richard Burton:

> 324
Well where do you think I got the suggestion David? :-)

I have definitely exceeded the recommended three boxes on top. In one pile I have seven (in order from top to bottom):

Moby Dick
Aeneid
Life of Saint Edward, King and Martyr
The Holkham Bible
Troilus & Criseyde
The Canterbury Tales
The Four Gospels

These are stacked more for aesthetics than support, but the Four Gospels is the largest and best able to support the ones on top.

In another pile in another room (I really don't have the space to place them side by side and I worry about insufficient space to break one of these piles into two or more stacks), again from top to bottom:

EP DLE London
EP DLE Metamorphoses
Folio LE Kelmscott Chaucer
Night Thoughts
Birds of Paradise

Again, Birds is the largest volume and seemingly most able to support the weight by distributing it more broadly. Chaucer and Night thoughts are nearly identical in box dimensions (excepting the width from a vertical perspective, Night Thoughts being obviously "wider").

I obviously have a lot invested in this collection. Should I be concerned with this storage method?

I certainly like the look of storing some of the more compact Folio LEs vertically on a sufficiently tall shelf, but I would worry about the long-term effects.

I like the idea of book supports.

All of my LEs are shelved vertically, although admittedly most of my LEs are of the compact variety (Moby Dick, Aeneid, War and Peace, Les Miserables, The Decameron, Alice's Adventures Underground). The exceptions are my two Letterpress Shakespeare volumes, but whilst these are larger they are not particularly heavy volumes and quite slim.

Probably more at risk is my non-LE Kelsmcott Chaucer whoch I also store vertically.

> 326

Book supports are a good idea. Let me know how you get on with yours, Faisel. Incidentally, I have that FL Arabian Nights as well. Its a stunning volume.

> 327

Perhaps the best thing is to check your boxes, Sean. If the ones on the bottom are intact and not compressed from the weight, then you will probably be ok.

However, I would be very worried if I were living in the apartment below yours :-)

> 330
Well one of the few advantages of high-rise condo living is that there are thick layers of concrete between the floors. I doubt my neighbors are at any risk. Not to mention when I had the Brazilian cherry wood floors installed, condo rules dictated that the old flooring be removed (carpeting, padding, and then the original tacky 70s parquet...think cheap apt rather than royal palace parquet). It was glued directly to the concrete before the "flooring" rules were enacted. My installer had to literally chisel all of it out, and as expected, it came up in little bits and pieces a bit like a jigsaw puzzle. Then he was required to put a layer of thick cork down over the concrete to which plywood boards were nailed. Then the Brazilian cherry wood planks were nailed to the plywood. This is great for sound deadening, not so great for living space height, as the process significantly raised the level of my floors, effectively "lowering" my ceiling. This only became a problem with the next delivery of floor to ceiling bookshelves. They barely fit and are a *bitch* to try to position in place given there is not much head room when maneuvering them into position. Not to mention it was a very expensive process, though very appealing visually afterwards. I think of all the hundreds of books I could have purchased with that money! But there was no way I was going to let beige carpeting in every room stay in place.

>320 boldface: Boldface
The felt backed vinyl book toppers are never washed, merely dusted regularly.
>322 UK_History_Fan: UK_History_Fan
The Fitzwilliam Book of Hours, Moby Dick, Holkham Bible, South Polar Times etc. are small enough to store vertically on shelves (in a different part of the library not shown in the picture above) without any problem. The storage of Robert's Holy Land, Egypt and Nubia; and the Queen Mary Atlas are more challenging, but still stored vertically on the floor.
If you really want a storage challenge, try the Hereford World Map, which comes in a 1.2 metre long heavy box.

RE: the book supports. A nice, simple solution to the issue of larger book blocks sagging over time. I've seen some publishers that build them into the slipcase, and I wish FS would do so. It would add one more reason to keep the books with the slipcases.
If I were having them made for my books, I'd use a pH neutral/water-based glue to fasten them inside the slipcase. Then they would just become part of the book/slipcase on the shelf.
For other books, it takes a bit to keep up with the supports and to keep track of which goes with which book. I had several from Franklin Library, then they stopped providing them. I think I have two or three still, but not sure which book they are hiding under. Don't know how the others got lost, but probably in a major move.

Os.

>319 cronshaw: It's easier than you think to make your own slipcases. This topic has been discussed in other LT threads. There is a good set of YouTube videos describing the whole process. My slipcases are quite a bit nicer than the standard FS slipcase as they are covered in cloth and velour lined. I think I'll try adding book supports to some of my larger volumes next. First up - The Kelmscott Chaucer.

I had to revive this thread because I think I'm a bit clumsy with slipcases.

It seems that if you want to remove your book out of its slipcase,its edges will inevitably rub against the latter.

And what about putting it back in the slipcase? Some slipcases seem very tight-like the one for Mrs Dalloway- and putting your books in them without rubbing the edges,can be a real challenge,even with the utmost precaution.

Is there any way to use slipcases without any damage done?

It's unrealistic to expect that the edges of a volume will not touch the sides of a slipcase as you slide a book in or out. If you are worried about any effect of rubbing wear (though I've not considered this a problem myself) then rest the spine of the slipcased volume on your lap, hold the slipcase vertically and lift, and the book should slide out with minimal friction. Sometimes a little jiggle is needed if the book doesn't feel like being read, but again that's quite normal, as books can be temperamental just like their owners. If you need pliers then the book may be quite depressed or the slipcase too tight.

The utmost care must be exercised when sliding the book back into the slipcase. Any distraction will mean damaged pages by the sides of the slipcase.

This problem has become more of an issue due to FS's more frequent use of paper sides. I am not a fan of paper bindings - the edges catch or nick on the slipcase rubbing the binding away, quickly making a volume look worn and frayed around the edges. No problem with buckram or leather.

I seem to have noticed an increasing number of tight slipcases lately, tight enough to rub some of the colour from the boards of books when they're at all prone to giving it up. Can't say I've thought of a response except that books tend more than ever to stay out of their slipcases once reading begins and to stay out until either they're read to the end or at least I'm having a very long hiatus.

Thanks guys! :)
But how do you slide it back into the slipcase?
Is there a special technique?
My book never gets in straight-a-way,and sometimes I have to apply some pressure to push it in,resulting in the edges being worn.

It's true that slipcases tend to have a tighter fit now if you compare them to other slipcases from years back. Perhaps it's in the manufacturing process which is now more mechanical. The slipcases are better made too, but they are tight and paper bindings do have a hard time coping.

> 340

I grab tightly either the top or bottom corner opposite the spine to start insertion and push the rest of the book carefully.

Edited to be more explicit

Hmm, have noticed this recently too. Not something I'm fond of. Though there has never been a slipcase I never wanted. They protect the books and I'm happy with it. However, were we to discuss solander boxes that are irritating, the FS LE Shakespeare come to mind.

>340 Evets_Kainzow:

I start by holding the slicase in my left hand and the book, spine in palm, in my right. I hold the book perpendicular to the slipcase, put the bottom corners of the boards in (still perpendicular), and twist 90 degrees (now the book is on the same plane as the slipcase, and the farthest 1/2 inch or so of the bottom corners of the boards are in). From there it's a simple matter to slide the rest of the book in. Starting perpendicular ensures that I don't accidentally leave one of the boards outside the case and tear endpapers.

Upon a second reading those instructions don't seem very clear at all. I hope you can tell what I mean!

Add me to those who are of the opinion that a book is not a real Folio Society volume unless it has a slipcase. I wonder if we would show Year Round Things to Do more love if it were slipcased?

As many have pointed out, slipcases protect the books, keep them relatively dust-free and help to keep them upright on a partly empty shelf (if there is such a thing among fadomanes). Many of them are attractive in their own right - Egypt Revealed, London: Portrait of a City, Travels of a Victorian Photographer, Churchill: A Life, The Silk Road, to name a few. Some are works of art. One Hundred Years of Solitude, in particular, comes to mind.

As for hiding the bindings and causing wear and tear to the boards, well, the bindings are already largely hidden when the book is shelved, and when I’m reading a book I generally leave it out of its slipcase until I’ve finished it so that the rubbing of the boards caused by sliding the book in and out of the case is minimal.

As boldface said above, you get used to the slipcases after you’ve acquired a shelf or two of FS books. I don’t even notice the slipcases when the books are shelved and personally I don’t think they detract from the appearance of the Folios shown in the following photos:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/dianp/9348415946/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/dianp/9345627971/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/dianp/9345628517/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/dianp/9345629089/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/dianp/9348418214/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/dianp/9348418956/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/dianp/9345630891/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/dianp/9345631835/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/dianp/9345632419/

It is better the slipcase scuffs than the book cover. I try to protect my books. I have a stock of Brodart products for the books with dust jackets.

I love slipcases on any book - not just FS books - as it protects them and adds to the sensuality of the book. The feel, texture, structure, smell and appearance of the book can be almost as important as the contents, and the FS ticks these boxes with all their editions.
Abbeville, LEC, Taschen, Westvaco, Easton etc. all produce similar beautiful slipcased volumes.
The only thing better than a slipcase is a solander box. Showing someone such a book is full of drama as the box is opened and the book revealed.
If a book is available in multiple formats, I will choose the more expensive slipcased edition over any other.
But then again, I may just be slightly weird in my love of books.
A selection of my FS books in their slipcases on a shelf can be seen at:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/warwick_carter/8227662147/lightbox/

I agree (again!) with the loving appreciation of slipcases. They offer such practical protection, and often so beautifully designed even for unlimited editions (eg. Book of Common Prayer, Folio 50, A History of Japan). I even prefer slipcases to Solander boxes as they still allow a handsome spine to be enjoyed while shelved, thus allowing all of protection, visibility and ready access. Even though my LE The Sound and the Fury has a handsome vermilion leather titling on the spine of the slipcase, I store it so that I see the spine of the book and companion volume instead (though not exposed to any bright light).

Here's another vote for slipcases ... And remember the FS model was adopted by other publishers doing reprints . I too like the OTT sensuality/ feel/luxury of a slip case. of course slip case must fit The book and be in good condition . but I also own a good many early FS books without slipcases . I like the idea of the glassene paper and intend now to get some and make a few covers. will need to investigate solander boxes. also see the thread about making book covers for protecting FS books while reading .

>348 cronshaw: I'm with you 100% on this! Love the slipcases as I also like to be able to see the spines of the books I cherish! I'm also not keen on the solander boxes for this reason + they take up more room on the shelf! I had a slipcase made for the first four letterpress Shakespeares I bought for both the aforementioned reasons! I was pleased to find some more on Ardis which came in slipcases and spent far too much money as a result!!

Now that gave me an idea. How about if the name of the book were printed on the narrow back of the slipcase. That is, I'd like to put the book in the slipcase, spine out so one can see the title of course. Then put the slipcase protected book on the shelf spine in. But then I can not see the title of the book. But if the matching slipcase also had the title and author on it I could do so and still find a title. Prevents sunwear to the spine while still allowing one to find a book.

i may have to start making my own labels to place on the edge of the slip cases to do this.

>351 sdawson: The LEC did this and the FS does it for most of their LE's - it's a great idea. I shelve any slipcased book with a label with the slipcase showing to prevent the spine from sunning. Someday I'll print myself labels for my the rest of my FS books and protect them as well.

>351 sdawson:
That is one of the best ideas to come up in this forum for a long time. I really hope the FS notes this and takes appropriate action.

I think you realise how important slipcases are when your normal books eventually get stained.
My copies of 'The Picture of Dorian Gray' and 'Crime and Punishment',both of which are hardbacks,have been stained on the upper block,despite all the care I take with them!
On the other hand,my Folio books are intact.

I throw away all of the slipscases unless they are special (DE) and/or decorated.

I was actually thinking about trying my hand at making slip cases . Anyone tried to do this ? or one could set about trying to decorate plain slip cases. S lip cases are a feature that sets FS books apart and I find I am now on to looking for copies in slip cases and replacing titles without their slipcases. Not having a slip case where there out to be one reduces the appeal and value of the book .

355
Likewise, With only rare exceptions, I discard them too. This is mainly to save space, and (as I've said elsewhere on this forum, probably on this very thread) it allows me to mix FS and appropriate non-FS volumes, I think, in nice combinations. I completely respect the intentions of FS in providing them and the tastes of devotees who retain them of course!

In fact I've never posted on this thread before; odd since I seem to talk about slipcases a lot!

>355 ultrarightist: I personally love the slipcases as it sets the FS books apart, for one, but as I hate dusting and do it as little as possible, they keep my books nice and clean. However, I didn't know people felt quite so passionate about them. I reserve your kind of reaction Chris, for when I hear about people discarding their pets, but slipcases? ;-)

Slipcase is a good thing to have, the problem is folio society make some real bad design with something so simple.

Just pick up a slipcase from other publisher like LEC . And you will be able to tell the difference.

EBay now selling a slip case only for Ancient Empires 4 volumes priced at $15... Now I've seen it all.

I'm as ambivalent about it as many of you. While I feel (somewhat strongly, it turns out) that all hardback books should come in slip cases, I find them to be a nuisance. In some ways, I think of them as the flimsiest part of a book that is bound to get wrecked in time. Yet, their sacrifice for the rest of the book--for the linen wrapped books in my collection especially--is invaluable. Couldn't live without them, even though I wish I could.

>1 Quicksilver66:

I do find that for sets they make accessing the individual books difficult but one of the things I love about Folio books is the slipcases, they just add so much to the feel of the book and they do protect them from damage - I have an entirely secondhand collection of Folios and a number have scratches and scuffs on the slipcases that show how much they have protected the books themselves. There's something just so special about pulling a book from the shelf and sliding it out of the slipcase to read it - probably similar to the feeling vinyl fans get when sliding a record from the sleeve and blowing the dust from it before placing it on the turntable. It just adds so much to the experience. They also prevent me from pulling the top of the spine to remove the book from the shelf and so avoids the associated damage that some of my other hardbacks have to the top and bottom of the spine.

They also prevent me from pulling the top of the spine to remove the book from the shelf and so avoid the associated damage that some of my other hardbacks have to the top and bottom of the spine. A very good point.

I've just read The Care of Fine Books by Jane Greenfield (Forward by Nicholas Basbanes) at page 119 mentions "Slipcases. They can abrade a book as it is taken in or out and are to be avoided unless the book is wrapped in a four-way chemise, an awkward and expensive item." Momentarily visions of the shed on four-way chemise washing day sprang to mind but more seriously I haven't ever found the slipcases abrade books.

> 367
Actually this does occur, particular with the paper sided editions Folio publishes, but in general I still think the slipcases offer nice protection of over the long term (as evidenced by the large number of used Folio I have bought in very good, though not "like new" condition) and I personally do not wish to avoid books with them.

You may find that when you wish to sell some of these FS books without slip cases, their value is markedly reduced. Indeed, such books may be impossible to sell, as buyers will almost always prefer books with their slip case.

One of my Thomas Hardy books has a slipcover so tight that it took me a couple of minutes to remove the book from the slipcase when I first got it. I leave that book outside of the slipcase!

For those of you who don't like slipcases, there seems to be quite a lot of savings to be made on the secondary market; FS books missing their slipcases seem to be heavily discounted.

I have suggested via the FS Members' Panel that the Society produces and sells extra slip cases where a FS member has a book where the original slip case has been lost or damaged. I hope they take this suggestion up. After all, the work involved in making slip cases can be contracted out easily enough.

>369 Andrew-Constantine:, 370

Jinx!

I'm not a slip-case fetishist, but I would argue that it's precisely the rather fragile paper-sided books that need them. I have bought several secondhand Folios where the slipcase was somewhat battered or even torn, but the book within was pristine. If the previous owner had treated the book as he has the slipcase, then the book itself would now be unsaleable.

As someone who travels with my books (in my backpack), I have to say the slipcases have protected my FS books over the years.

I must say I never really considered slipcases before I started to collect FS books; now ,however, a pretty book looks half-dressed without one. I have a FS Jungle Book which is missing a slipcase thanks to a child of mine and it doesn't quite look right on the shelf. Also, rarely, FS choose to use the case to supplement the illustrations e.g. Rogue Male, Foundation, both of which I think look great.

>376 EclecticIndulgence: I thought you were overdue lancing your Paper Sided boil, Eclectic! ;)

Packing up my books to move house, I say Thank heaven for slip cases! I just had to wipe the tops with a duster, whereas all the other books needed vacuuming with the soft brush attachment.

>379 overthemoon:
That's why I so love them!

The other major benefit of slip cases is that they protect the book from pressure on the binding, whether they are arranged standing up on a crowded bookshelf (... if there is such a thing as an uncrowded bookshelf for Folio devotees) and for those careless souls who - it is whispered - can even think of arranging their books on their side in vertical columns (surely a hanging offence if ever there was one, even if we were treat the book abuser with clemency).

I see far too many books where when you stand them on a flat surface on their own, they either do not stand up straight or the front edges are no longer aligned.

A report from the book trenches - slip cases for FS books are brilliant in that they protect and preserve against dust, spiders, spider webs, spider eggs, fishmoths and other such creepy crawlies. I treasure all my books which are in cases and wish I could make slip cases for those that are not ( just to mamoth a task). A slip case keeps the book in perfect condition. When I remove an FS volume from a slip case I read it in a removal slip cover.

I'm still can't get to grips with whether I'm for or against slipcases. Bought a copy of Inferno which arrived last night and found a little depression, not quite a dent, on the slipcase. I don't know whether I'm annoyed the slipcase is no longer perfect, or whether I'm happy its fulfilled its purpose. I guess normal slipcases I wouldn't have minded seeing as their blank, but deluxe editions tend to come with some accompanying artwork which makes slipcases more a part of the aesthetic of the whole book rather than a purely protective element. But I guess I shouldn't dwell on it seeing as it'll be squeezed in with other books and the blemish won't be visible unless I take it out.

I tend to keep the slipcase if it has a nice design on it (100 Years of Solitude) but the plain ones get banished to a box (in case I need them in the future).

>384 Louise.Hoelscher: That's Folio cruelty. I'm afraid I'll have to report you to no. 44.

I love slipcases,but it was only on the day before yesterday that I realised their importance:while I was moving my books to some other place,I noticed that a spider has left its 'waste' - tiny yellow dots - on my slipcase of Never Let Me Go! Had it been on the book or the pages,I would have had a hard time removing it!
Besides dust never gets on my books.

>382 Africansky1:

The slipcases need to fit properly, though. I have found occasionally that on taking a book out of a less than tight slipcase the mortal remains of a spider have also dropped out. This can be almost as disconcerting to me as it must have been to the late spider.

>381 Andrew-Constantine:

You would not like to see my copy of The Art of Electronics, which spent many years on my desk at work laying on its side with a number of other books stacked on top of it! The poor thing is in a most deplorable state.

For those that put away their slipcases into storage… do you label them in some way? If you needed to restore the case to its accompanying book but had a large collection then how would you pick out the correct one (excepting those with distinctive art or the set name picked out on the side of course!)?

A few of mine seem to be 'close' fits, so I could imagine picking through hundreds might lead to a new level of FS madness! :-)

I have swung between thinking them practical & attractive and a right pain with some tight cases or for large heavy sets; trying to remove a volume from a bulky and weighty set of books is not the most elegant of manoeuvres. It does prevent me from pulling on the top edge of the book to extract it from the shelf though, and as with a vinyl record (or laserdisc for those that remember them) there is something of a sense of occasion to removing the book from its slipcase.

I've, like me, you've been foolish enough to buy Ikea'a cheapest bookcase - with open sides - then slip-cased boxsets are a godsend. Far better than bookends.

I have noticed that the FS slipcases do the job of protecting the books, but themselves are so easily scuffed. Many of mine have marks and scuffs on them from normal handling. So for future collectors who want a pristine book in a pristine case, it seems like mine won't fit the bill.

>390 sdawson:

I think most collectors are more interested in fine/near-fine copies of the books themselves, and are generally understanding of the fact that slipcases, by dint of their nature and the job they're meant to do, will not necessarily be as good as the book itself. It really doesn't take much for a slipcase to start showing subtle signs of wear/scraping due to being moved about on a shelf.

In my opinion, you'd have to be a real purist to demand a F slipcase - for me, I don't mind if the slipcase's not in F condition. Worse comes to worst, I can always go to a bookbinder and have a new slipcase made to imitate the original as best as possible.

That, and FS is not LEC either: it's far easier to find Fine copies of FS books and F/NF (or at least VG+) slipcases. By comparison, good luck finding a LEC from before ~1950 with a F slipcase (or even a slipcase at all for some of the earliest LEC titles).

So I guess in the end I come down on the side of appreciating slipcases, but don't really worry about the condition as long as it's done its job and kept the book in wonderful condition.

I find most slipcases very cheaply made and ugly. They get beat up far more easily than a book will. I don't want my beautiful books in them. It's like keeping an ugly plastic cover on your nice leather couch.

- 392

Exactly the sentiment I expressed in the first post. I'm surprised this thread has lasted so long. Seems that I touched a raw nerve. I am as ambivalent about slipcases as I have always been. Aesthetically they add little to the book, with the exception of some of the nice pictorial slipcases such as the ones provided with Stalingrad or Molesworth. I would rather keep the dust of books by frequent dusting. But still I can't throw the Damn things away.

Slipcases also serve another practical purpose; they help keep the boards straight and take the pressure off of them when they're being stored upright. If you've left a book upright long enough, you'll notice that the boards have warped slightly out of shape as a result.

I agree that most slipcases are cheap cardboard (that's literally what they are anyways), but they serve a purpose to me, so I'll tolerate them.

I keep mine (stored away) only because I do see a potential good use for them in the future as my bookshelves start to overflow. I could always keep books on TOP of my bookcases and with nothing to "hold" the books in, instead of using bookends, the books in their slipcases can stand on their own.

> 394 scholasticus

I have never noticed any of my books warping but then again they are all crammed in so tight into my bookcases that that alone keeps them straight.

Warping of the boards is a danger without slipcases, but I keep my books( without slipcases ) stacked tightly together with volumes of similar size to avoid this, but not so very tightly that the boards get scuffed.

I can't say I have noticed this warping effect. Humidity can sometimes warp leather bound books and I have noticed this with my EP books. But a book stored upright should not warp unless the pressure is extreme. Sagging can occur with heavy volumes but a slipcase does nothing to prevent this.

> 396
I posted 397 before seeing that it was near-identical to yours, Louise.Hoelscher - great minds, as they say!

>398 Quicksilver66:
I'm sure that's right,quicksilver; in fact the only incipient warping I've ever noticed is with some smaller books stored horizontally(I then whisked them away for vertical, tight storage!)

I've had some books where the boards have warped, one that springs to mind is the Belknap Harvard "uncensored" edition of The Picture of Dorian Gray. Rather than a small book, this is a large, square volume. The boards splayed out where they extended beyond the books on either side.

I wonder if US-made books (trade hardbacks, I mean) are more susceptible to this than UK-made (or more probably European-made) ones. You can tell that their construction, or the materials used, are subtly different.

So I've noticed the Jopseh Conrad slipcases a slightly taller than the books and leave a slight gap at the top. At first I didn't think much of it till now. I'm somewhat neutral on slipcases but please Folio, if you're gonna make them please make them FIT!! Just look at what I found when I took Victory out of the slipcase! Thank goodness they haven't hatched yet, I dread to think of the outcome, especially as my books are right above my bed.

Oh, and in other news I'm giving away a free copy of Victory if anyone is interested, shipping included? Any takers?

Just to clarify, it's a spider egg sac! I flushed mummy down the drain before I realised why she took up residence inside the case.

Ugh -- what is that, exactly?

In the recent batch of books I got I had to struggle so much to get one of my books OUT of the slipcase I almost destroyed it. I HATE slipcases.

>402 NYCFaddict:

It's a spider egg sac!! When i removed the book there was a meaty-type spider, possibly a Mouse Spider, just sitting on the top edge of the pages. I tried keeping calm and walked over to the bathroom to throw in the sink but it started waking up and I panicked and threw the whole book into the bathtub. I flushed the damn thing down the drain. Afterwards I noticed some webbing on the paper where it was sitting, and decided look inside and found that thing! Thank goodness I actually received a sealed copy of Victory which was why I was opening my old second-hand copy up in the first place, otherwise it would have just went on and hatched!

Let me get this straight -- the spider was between the book and slipcase edge in a SEALED copy of Victory, meaning it entered at the printing press?

I take it you won't be acquiring a copy of Charlotte's web then....

>405 NYCFaddict:

Thank goodness no. I had a second hand copy of victory (which is where the spider was) that was being replaced by a sealed copy. I took out the old copy to see what condition I could sell it as and that when I found the spider sitting on the top edge of the book I took care of it then found the sac inside the case.

If I had never bought that sealed copy of Victory I'd have no reason to take my old copy out as it's not where near the top of my reading list.

>406 Firumbras:

Funnily enough I did get myself a copy that arrived last Friday. Coincidence or conspiracy?

So anyone interested in a free copy of Victory?

While it's no Nostromo, Victory is middle-ranking Conrad, so at least the spider had some taste!

I will be checking my Conrad books as soon as I get home - I hope I don't find any spiders!

And the Charlotte's Web post made me laugh out loud.

I had a similar experience with my copy of The Great Gatsby.
When I picked the book to read,I noticed a petty insect - not a spider - has died inside the slipcase,just over the top block.
As a result,there are three or four very tiny brown spots on the top block of my book.
I have no idea how this happened,given that the slipcase is pretty tight,but then it's an insect I'm speaking of.
That being said,I'm still a super fan of slipcases!

My greatest fear is to one day remove the book from its slipcase only to see a lizard in it! :S
Eww...
I think I'll have to buy some mothballs...

>401 wongie: As a slipcase apologist, I would note that yet again the much maligned cardboard did it's job - protected your precious words...

>410 Evets_Kainzow: Having spent 4 years in Hawaii, I find I miss the geckos. Giant flying roaches not so much...

If I removed a book and found a lizard I'd be overjoyed! Though possibly not if it was a Komodo Dragon...

>412 kcshankd:
Living in Queensland, we still have to put up with geckos, in Summer anyway, and they are impossible to remove from a house, and leave their tiny poop everywhere, including on books.
I put an insect bomb in my library every six months to fumigate it, which discourages the geckos for a few weeks.

Wongie:

Oh my God. What a frightening thing to experience. Made me uneasy staring at that sac thinking it would burst open in seconds. God I hate spiders. I have arachnophobia and can't stand them. I'm really happy that I live in the northerly hemisphere where it's cool. We occasionally get insects but mostly in the summer. Spiders are rare in the city, they are they're but are small and tiny legged. Not like the hairy beast with a thick back that I squashed in the UK, only to find white goo all over the place or the spider that lived in the garage that you could hear crawling, that decided that my car's right hand side mirror was a preferable place to live in after I cleaned the garage. I never got rid of it and can't fathom how on earth it could squeeze itself inside the side mirror. And why oh why the right hand side mirror. I sold the car shortly afterwards. I was petrified that it would jump out when I drove.

I live in a garden spot in Canada - drawback is black widows and brown recluse spiders. I was not amused by this recent post. Eww

Australia, and particularly Queensland, is host to innumerable creepy crawly nasties from leeches to crocodiles. When it comes to spiders, we have huntsmen regularly in our home, and although they look ferocious, they are harmless, and eat smaller insects that can bite and sting.
Arachnophobes look away now!

Harmless you say? :)

> 417
That is disgusting! How can you touch it? And I haven't even had my breakfast yet. No need, now.

Magnificent creature. I love spiders. If one is too big to ignore in the study, I shoo, never squish.

I don't fear them,as long as I know they are not deadly.
However I wouldn't go so far as to touch them! Even the tiniest ones sometimes take you by surprise by jumping on you!

I see the discussion of spiders is still going strong. In case anyone is wondering what I did, I ended up wrapping the slipcase with cling film as I'm curious enough to see them hatch, well sort of. I still haven't decided once and for all yet. If I'm sensible I'll clean it out and give the book to a local charity that gives away books for free. Or if I'm feeling particularly evil I may just put the book back in the slipcase with the egg sac still in there and give it away. I jest, I'm not that sadistic, but the thought does amuse me.

>417 wcarter:

That just makes me shrivel. I hate spiders and will never touch them but I have a very strong interest in them, just not the interest to touch. I must say though that I am prejudice against certain species; Garden spiders, House spiders, or mouse spiders in my case last night I'll kill without a second thought, but I will go out of my way to protect jumping spiders given that they're the most intelligent and curious of their disgusting ilk. Intelligence is a trait I can respect, the brutish variety of spiders however can go down the drain.

I was bitten on the belly by what i assume was a brown recluse while camping in Calgary about 11 years ago. Pus, shakes, Burning, black necrotic stinky flesh, trip to the doctor etc. I still have a faint scar.

My son had a pet tarantula. I let it walk up my arm and onto my shoulders, as did everyone except Mom. No one ever got bit.

But a friend did get bit by a brown recluse, on the shoulder. It was terrible, and took quite some time to heal.

And my Conrad books are spider-free!

>424 coynedj: My 7-year old daughter was handling a tarantula last week at Brownies (as well as snakes, millipedes and a variety of other wriggly things), and she didn't bat an eyelid. Me, I kept as far away as possible on the other side of the room!

Somehow it seems appropriate that a few Conrad books should be infested with tropical beasties. I am sure he would have approved! One of mine was clawed by a cat, but I am not sure that counts.

>417 wcarter: Dr Carter you scared the sh*t out me. That "Arachnophobes look away now!" was too late as the picture loaded right in front of me. That was an unpleasant surprise

>426 ironjaw:
Sorry - I guess we have got waaaay off topic here (in other words FSD is doing its usual thing). You don't expect to see photos such as this on a forum dealing with fine books

I use the slipcases and I do enjoy the novelty of taking the books out. However, the Rainbow Fairy Book that I have is the violet one and it is in a dark blue slipcase. Bit disappointing!

>426 ironjaw:
But you can stand the sight of spiders,can't you?
If not,I'm surprised! I thought it only happened with people having the phobia of snakes! (My mother's phobia is very acute and she seriously freaks out whenever she sees a snake in the papers or on TV! lol..)

>428 Edyno.Bathana:
Sometimes the colour of the slipcases can be very disappointing.For instance my first slipcase of To Kill a Mockingbird was of a nice orange colour,but it was crammed and the book was torn.Sadly my replacement came with an unmatchable dark brown slipcase! :/
Luckily I don't have this problem with any of my other Folio books.

>429 Evets_Kainzow: Yes, I can but the problem is that I freeze instantly and want to move but can't. I've trained myself to relax and have no problems with small petite spiders we have here in the city in Copenhagen but those seriously large ones I freak out.

I have a friend whose father never kills spiders as he finds them harmless (and he's also a clutter-type person which I loathe) so that the ones he has in the bathroom has multiplied exponentially and when I, for the first time asked to borrow the toilet (a small closet type room with just enough space to install a sink) I got the shock of my life when I entered it. It was a scene from Arachnophobia - the film - just with small spiders hanging down everywhere coming out of the sink drain and behind the toilet. It was disgusting and horrifying. I froze and couldn't get out - it took some moments for me to actually get out and I felt that I was covered with them. At that instance all I could think of was to go straight home and take a shower and burn my designer clothes.

> 430
I'm with you Faisel, I am scared shitless of spiders, bees, wasps, hornets, and snakes.

What is that flying insect with the long tail with cool name. Oh yes dragonfly. I hate that one so aggressive.

>433 ironjaw: they have dragonflys like bi-planes in Alberta, Faisel, so strike that destination off your list. Happily I love them - but was not terribly keen on helping the keepers of Vancouver Zoo to feed their tarantulas! My only true hatred is for mosquitoes. Sadly they adore me in equal measure. Each bite quickly ulcerates - yeugh!

Great thread digression btw...all wongie's fault ;-)

Wongie - you have a second FS John Donne too? Also opened too enthusiastically (the mind boggles!) ?

> 433 I have the lovely New Naturalist volume on Dragonflies as it happens...I'll say no more!

>434 Polar_bear: Wonderful thread digression, as you say, but it couldn't have happened to a more appropriate thread - bug phobia and pronounced slipcase aversion / enthusiasm all seem to be equally recessed in the not-for-turning part of the brain!

edit typos

> 434 - Thankfully, I'm immune to mosquito bites. Bee stings as well. But the bugs that spook me are cicada killer wasps. We have them in my area and they're huge, though I understand that they're not aggressive (to non-cicadas, that is). When you see one flying while carrying a cicada, they look even bigger than they are by themselves, and they are unbelievably loud.

I did like the "dragonflies like bi-planes" line. I've been to Calgary several times, and might have seen some of them and thought they were planes!

I love dragonflies and damselflies too, they are fantastic insects; nothing like walking by the river with Emperor dragonflies checking you out as they patrol, and banded demoiselles fluttering around your knees.

Mosquitoes and horse flies are among the only insects I hate (though they love me!). I like spiders, though am still a little cautious about some of them (the woodlouse spiders in my garden have a rather painful bite), but I did hold a tarantula recently as part of my attempt to put arachnophobia behind me and I'll happily leave the spiders in the house to do their thing. The big house spiders still creep me out but I'm getting better at tolerating them.

Slipcases are not the only haunt of our eight-legged friends. A small spider has recently taken up residence inside my aneroid barometer. A severe and unexpected precipitation almost ensued when She first answered my gentle tap on the glass. Whether She turns out to be a fair-weather friend has yet to be determined.

hornets are the ones I fear and for good reason. Where my family spend the summer there are European ones and now the Asian hornets have also invaded; they are mainly nocturnal and will slam into the window of a lit room at night, slightly disconcerting, to say the least.

When I hear about poisonous spiders, aggressive biting ants, mosquitoes, fat stinging flies, crocodiles and alligators, lethal jellyfish, venomous snakes, sharks and other unpleasantly evolved nasties, I feel a little less ungrateful for the unpredictable, often grey and wet but comparatively mild climate of north western Europe!

(Edited to add apologies for keeping this thread way off topic. My Folios love their slipcases and tell me they fell naked and ugly without them)

I have quite a few non-fiction books that are very important to me, so for me, I do want to keep the books protected for 500+ years, especially since many of my books are Bibles, Hebrew/Jewish Bibles, Plato, Aristotle, Philo, Kitzur Shulkhan Arukh, and other academic works. And history certainly shows that the majority of manuscripts have been lost to time because they weren't taken care of, or burned.

I don't do this with most of my fiction books though, and not all of my non-fiction books came with slipcases, unfortunately. But perhaps I could just make my own - then the sizes won't be too tight or loose, etc.

Here is a great example of why keeping slipcases on books is definitely a good idea :-)

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/225037343506?_trkparms=amclksrc%3DITM%26aid%3D111001%...

>442 RogerBlake:

Still five days left. It could go as high as £20 in that time.

>442 RogerBlake:

Such a shame these books weren't treated better. This feels like looking at the victim of a nasty accident. I know, I know, book collectors. ;-) But still, this is a pity.

>442 RogerBlake: The horror, the horror

>441 krixano:

Perhaps for 500+ years, slipcases would be enough, but if you want your books to survive for 1000+ years, I would suggest that you make cases out of olive wood - and make sure that the books are printed on high quality paper and parchment.

>446 originaux: Wow, what a book! It's sure survived the past 58 years without a trace of aging. Thanks for sharing.

>446 originaux:
Amazing and wonderful illustrations.

>7 Quicksilver66: I dislike them and I actually recycle them if possible. The few volumes I have that are not replaceable are in a locking, glass-fronted cabinet. For me a library is a tool, or a set of tools, not a museum. Like other tools, books should be properly cared for--but mostly they should be used: read, passed from hand to hand. Slip covers have a Do-Not-Touch vibe that I Will-Not-Tolerate.

>449 JamesBeach: Yep, I also dump out all my drill bits, and router bits onto the shelf, toss the case that small power tools come in as well. No tool boxes for me. Sorry, to each their own.

>443 folio_books: Sold for £310 after 22 bids, i.e. £15.50 a piece; minus the slipcases and shipping.

The seller also sold 10 books of this series in almost pristine condition for £400 after 10 bids.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/224966248751

>1 Quicksilver66: I can take them or leave them.