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No Jacket required.....or is there? All the books in the Observer's series by Warne were published with a pictorial cover. These were either as: 1. A dust wrapper, which folded around the entire book with the end flaps tucked in at the back and front. or 2. A laminated pictorial board cover.
Dust Wrappers , from the first title that was ever published, until the late sixties, all the books were published with a paper dust wrapper, with pictorial designs which changed through the decades. However, these paper dust wrappers were very prone to tears, creases, rubbing and could also become quite grubby with constant handling. During the late Sixties, some of these paper dust wrappers were given a light glossy coating, which made them a little stronger, but moreover they became less prone to grubbiness - they could be gently wiped clean. From the Seventies all titles published were treated to these new 'glossy' jackets, and together with a new design format, they became what many of us have regarded as 'the little white books'. They are commonly referred to as 'glossies'.
Laminated Boards In the late Seventies Warne dispensed with dust wrappers completely. Still maintaining the same design format, the dust wrapper was laminated and seemingly 'stuck' onto, and around, the boards of the book. The finished product was a tougher little book which was even easier to wipe clean, whenever necessary, and without a dust wrapper that could damage easily.
Cyanamid jackets In the late Seventies and early Eighties some of the titles appeared with special jackets advertising a range of herbicide products. These have become known as Cyanamids and can be very rare to come across. |
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Hints & Tips
Once you've started your collection , the most important thing to do is to protect your books!! The condition of a book, in particular the dust wrapper, can make the difference between having something which could become virtually worthless and uncollectable, to having a book which may become very much sought after. Many collectors protect their dust wrappers using clear plastic sleeving. I have found the clear glossy polypockets you can buy from Woolies ideal for this purpose. I cut around the three sealed edges and produce two sheets.....these leave about an inch of the inside end flaps uncovered, but you can always just cut around two of the sealed edges of the polypockets to produce one large sheet. Doing it this way does means the original fold of the polypocket is visible to the spine of the dust jacket. The choice is yours and you can always buy purpose made protective cellophane which can be expensive. Personally, I feel that if you have spent many hours, money and effort into building up a collection, then one of the best pleasures is being able to easily view your treasures. I have my collection displayed in cabinets, which I made myself, in a room, receiving very little direct sunlight and away from the window.
Some points worth remembering : Anybody familiar with Observer's Books will know that the dust wrappers and jackets of these little gems of Literature are prone to certain conditions, which can, over a period of time, affect their collectable value. Fading - We have all stumbled across an elusive edition, only to discover that although the book in itself is in perfect condition, the spine has faded - sometimes to such an extent that the title has become barely visible! Always try to store your books away from direct sunlight.....or better still, no light whatsoever. Some collectors have taken to storing their books in shelved wardrobes. Tanning - Again this can be caused by too much strong light, and even more so by tobacco smoke..........smokers beware!! Beware of storing your books by piling them on top of one another, as this can cause the spines to weaken and ultimately end up looking like the ones in the picture below
If you do need to store them by piling them up, they are best placed alternately. This helps to spread the weight across the books..........see picture below.
Treat your books with care. Little knocks, particularly to the edges of the boards of the laminated editions, can cause what is known as 'bumping', which can also reduce its collectable value. , here I have shared with you some of the things I have learned during my time in collecting these wonderful and somewhat addictive little books. If any other collectors wish to share further tips and advice on how to look after books then please feel free to e-mail me , and I will gladly share it with everyone else on this page. Happy hunting and collecting!! Martyn Cordey ____________________________ Hints and tips from other collectors: Tip from Linda Blackwell : Nicotine stains can sometimes be removed by carefully using lighter fuel with kitchen roll....
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