How to care for & clean antique books | Butler School episode 30

Rare valuable and antique books need careful care and attention. Today on butler school we look at how to clean and care for vintage books.
As a butler one has to look after some very valuable books. The most expensive book ever sold was the Codex Leicester, by Leonardo da Vinci’s. It was sold in 1994 for US $30,802,500. The book was sold to Billiq Gates and if you get a job as his butler you had better take good care of that book!
www.rossetbespokebutlers.com
#books #antiques #butlerschool

[@St.Paul_730]

What a gentleman, saving mankind’s treasures!

[@Divertedflight]

When I saw the badger hair shaving brush I thought; "What a good idea."

[@Palendrome]

This was the most informative video I've found so far, and by far looks like the safest way to do it compared to some other videos. I see the books you're using seem to be from the 18 and 1900s. I've recently started collecting, and some of my books are from the 1700s. Are there any special rules when you start going back especially old to the hundreds of years, or is it the same general rules just with further care?

[@RossetBespokeButlers]

Thank you very much I really appreciate. The older the book the more delicate you need to be. The really important thing is humidity. If they get too damp or too dry it can be a big problem. Thanks Simeon

[@user-if6yc3so2m]

I always wow at your teach

[@RossetBespokeButlers]

Thank you 🙏🏼

[@nackyvlogs2457]

This video is my favorite and hallp full thank you🙏

[@RossetBespokeButlers]

I really appreciate your comment thank you. I am glad it was useful

[@gsanchez3133]

Thank you so much for this clip. I recently purchased rare books from the 1800's. I don't have a book shelf at this time. Is it OK to pack each book in a box? I don't want to stack them in one box.

[@petrawillems7213]

Thank you for this video, it was most instructive. Do you have any pointers on how to care for books (1880-1910 range) with gilt titles and illustrations on cloth covers? They do dry out a bit, but I hesitate to put a leather product on them.

[@deependz3231]

Personally, I use olive oil on a paper towel.

[@binaejensen]

Hello, I know this was posted 1 year ago, but I'll try anyway: I recently bought a stack of old books from a local Thrift Store, and I'm worried about ruining the covers, but I also want to disinfect them. Do you have any tips for carefully wiping them down without ruining them? The oldest dates back to 1895 and the most recent is 1910

[@deependz3231]

Don't know about the disinfect part, but I clean wash old book covers with olive oil.

[@odnarlo]

I’m my own research, I’ve learned there’s a lot of different cover and even paper blends so I would try to figure out what kind it is before looking into cleaning but there are some resources out there. Given the dates they might be made of weirder stuff/blends I’ve mentioned. I say to head this because they can then break them down.

[@futurepiratekingg]

I have a old pride & prejudice book but It's already too late to save it haha I enjoyed the video a lot :) Thanks

[@RossetBespokeButlers]

Thank you

[@entiretinofsweetcorn7025]

that looks like harmsworth history of the world

[@RossetBespokeButlers]

Spot on that is exactly right.

[@chayaleaguggenheim]

Hi! This was most useful!Thanks! If you keep the books in a closed wooden cabinet with glass doors do you still need to clean them on a weekly basis?

[@RossetBespokeButlers]

No less often but still on a regular basis. Thank you

[@chayaleaguggenheim]

Thank you How often would you recommend.

[@krzysztofgorski9611]

Dzięki za rady 😊

[@MadHatter11371]

Can leather cream be applied over gold leaf on the spine?

[@rbeehner2]

Great information. May I suggest you missed explaining the how and why of opening a book, text block sag and remedies, vertical v. horizontal storage and the differences between the leaves of antiquarian books being bound to the spice over against the modern open spine. Perhaps fodder for another video?

[@RossetBespokeButlers]

Great suggestions, I tried to keep the video as simple as possible for people but I like your idea fo a follow-up vid.

[@MadHatter11371]

Can you do a video on how to get rid of bookworms? What pill are you talking about? Brand name ?

[@citizencan4444]

hi. i'd like to know whether it is advisable to wrap books with plastic book wrapper? for leather, cloth, and paper bound books. thanks

[@RossetBespokeButlers]

Hi good question. In general I would say no as the air needs to get to them. However if the book is going to be handled a lot it would save the cover from damage and finger marks.

[@noahj008]

I may have missed the answer to my own question, as I did watch this video very casually. But I have a book on music notation that I would like to clean. It’s not a necessarily rare book, nor an old book (a few decades out of print however), and I could easily just order a cleaner copy. But I really would like to use this book. After all, books are meant to be read. But it’s just so dirty and dusty that my allergies can stand to hold it for longer than a minute. And it smells like cat litter and smoke. The spine the cover and the pages are in good shape, it’s just dirty. Would you have any advice for me to get it into a clean and usable state? Thanks!

[@deependz3231]

Here's what I would do and have done, if a hardcover, use olive oil soaked paper towel to wash the outside, the book will be shiny from the olive oil but that will dissipate within a few hours and the book will return to its original state, but cleaner. For smoke and odor, fill a plastic container large enough to hold the book and also to be able to fill it with baking soda, immerse the book in the baking soda, being sure the soda gets between the pages, and keep it in that state for a few days.

[@chayaleaguggenheim]

Which shaving brush do you recommend please?

[@RossetBespokeButlers]

Hi thank you for your question. My favorite are from a company called KENT I have included a link amzn.to/3Uh0uUS

[@imdeadinsidedotorg8152]

What are some professional books restorers and cleaners to send books out to?

[@xstalkrx]

How do you get rid of old mold/mildew stains on white end papers? I tried an eraser, I tried a damp cloth with alcohol, I tried a damp cloth with hydrogen peroxide, nothing worked.

[@RossetBespokeButlers]

Hi well once the mold takes hold it is very very hard to remove. My first recommendation would be alcohol although I see you have already used that. Was it 70% or 99%? The 99% will be more affective but it will also remove ink so be really careful. The real problem is killing the mold without damaging the book. As a "hail Mary" act you can freeze the book a few days at -20 should kill the mold but (and it is a big but) it could completely destroy the book! Also when you take it out it will attact moisture from the air so you will need to put it in a desiccant. I have never actually done this but I have been told it works so I am not really sure if I would recommend it. If the books are valuable you may need to use a professional restorer, if not have another go with pure alcohol and a cotton bud (Qtip)

[@xstalkrx]

@@RossetBespokeButlers It was the 70% isopropyl alcohol. I put a very small amount on a microfiber towel and tested it on a small area by making a small circular motion. I noticed that some paper fibers were coming up so I stopped. I did lightly graze the entire affected area with the alcohol towel. Maybe I could try with the qtip and just softly blot the areas instead of making circular motions? The mold is a very small amount and it must be dormant. This should not create a problem being near my other books since my temperature, humidity and airflow is ideal, right?

[@yowtfputthemaskbackon9202]

I'm a bit late with this comment, but how do I take care of books that are in very bad shape. for example books with fire damage, mold damage, water damage, books that spend several years out in the elements, books that were torn apart or fell apart over time, how can I adequately protect those, given that I don't have the financial ability to have all of them restored

[@RossetBespokeButlers]

Hi thank you for your comment. Well that is a huge question. Each one of those things requires a different technique. Paper is surprisingly resilient but there are limits. A professional restoration would cost a lot of money because the man hours involved are huge. Realistically you are probably best to stabilise them and stop them getting worse. Dry them if wet, make sure no parts are lost. Mold can be removed with alcohol but be really careful because it can also remove ink. Torn pages can be stabilized by gluing tissue paper across the damage but you need to use a special glue and an acid free paper. There are a lot of great videos if you search for them that will do step by step instructions on this.

[@deependz3231]

Forget the leather creme, I use olive oil soaked in a paper towel to wipe the book hardcover down.

[@mitzzzu_tigerjones444]

I’m reading a lot of stuff that’s saying “gloves off” for antique book handling. Are there two camps in the subject or is this more of a thing one does specifically for cleaning a book?

[@RossetBespokeButlers]

Opinion seems to have changed since I was trained. It always used to be that gloves were recommended, now it seems that they are not. I am on the fence because I do understand the idea that you have more control over your fingers when not in gloves but I still feel that dirt could be passed to the book. I think it's best to do what you feel comfortable doing because in another 20 years it is very possible the popular advice will be different again. I use gloves for cleaning lots of delicate objects and I do not want to tempt fate but it has never been an issue. Thank you

[@mitzzzu_tigerjones444]

@@RossetBespokeButlers You would think there would be a glove that was specifically engineered for handling books in the modern age that gives you tact ability as well as protection from your epidermidis. Oh well Thanks 🙏🏽

[@Nashvillain10SE]

Wash your hands before handling the books and never wear gloves. It reduces your tactile sense and increases the likelihood of creasing the pages.

[@mitzzzu_tigerjones444]

@@Nashvillain10SE Right, that’s why I’m saying maybe there could be a glove that is specially engineered for Tip Tactability. I understand the current method of care.

[@Nashvillain10SE]

@@mitzzzu_tigerjones444 Anything between your skin and the object will reduce your tactile sense.

[@christinagordon2351]

I found an original book from 1892. I don't even know if it is of any value or can I just read it

[@Twinkle-Winkle]

Personaly I think the whole point of these books being saved is to be enjoyed at some point, otherwise what's the point on holding on to them for so long. I hardly think many authors would dedicate that much of the lives into creating a book with a hopes that it would be kept up on a shelf in perfect condition. If you think that it's in good enough condition to be enjoyed without doing significant damage I would hope it would be treasured while being reviewed. TBH, I have not always been the one to use the China, but after breaking and losing life treasure, I wished someone could have enjoyed them. Especially if they could have loved then with excitement like I did.

[@Nashvillain10SE]

*Step 1: Don't wear gloves when handling antiquarian books.*

[@chereejansevanrensburg8395]

Hi Im from South Africa, I have a family Bible from 1762 , do you know any restorers in South Africa I can contact?

[@RossetBespokeButlers]

What a wonderful thing to have. So beautiful so special. I unfortunately do not know anyone in South Africa so I can't help with this but good luck.

[@jayroland9481]

I have a 1606 1st edition of 'The Historie Of Great Britannie' by John Clapham that is bound in velum. The problem is the velum has gone really hard & inflexible. How would you suggest I rectify that please?

[@RossetBespokeButlers]

Hi such an amazing thing to have how wonderful! Vellum is a truly amazing material and can last for as much as 1000 years, but it is damaged by the wrong level of humidity. Too damp and it will rot and too dry and it gets stiff. I think that if you can take it to a specialist at least for a look that would be a really good idea. They should be able to feed the vellum to make it softer if required but, I am not sure if I would recommend doing this yourself as it can easily cause more damage then it would cure. The humidity should be around 30% it might be worth you getting a hydrometer. Thank you

[@jayroland9481]

@@RossetBespokeButlers Thanks. Humidity is pretty much around 50-55% year round here. I shall look into what I need to dress the velum with to make it supple again.

[@Coteoki]

Amazing video, but why is it shaking so much?

[@alexandermasters7827]

Handheld recording.

[@deependz3231]

Sorry pal, I keep my books nice and tight, and when I want to extract one from the bookcase, I simply put my index finger behind the book where the pages are and push it out far enough where I can grab it by the front mid section, and if the book(s) are so high, where there's not enough clearance between upper shelf and top of book to be able to reach my index finger behind, then I make sure there's always one book in the row that's short enough to make my method possible, simply remove that one from the bookcase to make possible to push away the books on either side of the book you want to retrieve. My method is simple, it doesn't rely on rocket science, but it does require some common sense.

[@s.p.8803]

Yes, it is how it is done in librairies.

[@salvadormanzo2918]

Sorry, isn't it advisable to not wear gloves for it gets rid of the tactile care when handling them? As in you would be more aggressive than you normally would.

[@RossetBespokeButlers]

The advice on this has actually changed and you are correct that is the new idea. Back when I was trained they always said to use gloves.

[@salvadormanzo2918]

@@RossetBespokeButlers interesting!

[@PatricksRareBooks]

Step one is to ditch the gloves, I’m afraid.

[@RossetBespokeButlers]

Why is that? We were told that the acid from sweat can mark and damage the book.

[@dalebrown6148]

@@RossetBespokeButlers Excuse me. Where did you get those gloves? What particular brand are those?

[@s.p.8803]

@@RossetBespokeButlers Actually, it is not recommended by experts anymore. Just have your hands clean and dry. The gloves reduce your sensitivity and you are more prone to an accident like creasing or tearing the paper. The use of gloves is only recommended if the book is a risk for your skin (like the use of lead, for instance).

[@ashleyw6728]

But it looks nicer so pipe down

[@edition-deluxe]

Yeah right, like anyone is going to do that once a week! Haha

[@PatchyTheFox]

I’m destroying Shakespeare’s legacy. You’re welcome to come watch me do it.