Help with preserving old Spalding Guides

[Runscott]

Originally Posted by martindl

I recently acquired a book published in 1665. It's about the court rules of Romans. It was rebound in old book pages from 1747, secured in vellum.

I think you should rebind your guides in old copies of Baseball Magazine or Harpers perhaps. If it's good enough for the Romans.........

Ironically, I could do that. I have about half of the issues from 1909-12.

[Hot Springs Bathers]

I don't have any but I have always felt that a complete run of BASEBALL MAGAZINE would be the Cadillac of publication runs.

I think there are 534 issues 1908-1965, I have scans of almost all the covers from 1908 to 1930 but no issues. A complete run would be equivalent to a complete set of T206s, well maybe minus the Wagner and Plank!

[Runscott]

Originally Posted by Hot Springs Bathers

I don't have any but I have always felt that a complete run of BASEBALL MAGAZINE would be the Cadillac of publication runs.

I think there are 534 issues 1908-1965, I have scans of almost all the covers from 1908 to 1930 but no issues. A complete run would be equivalent to a complete set of T206s, well maybe minus the Wagner and Plank!

I bought mine as five lots from a 'set' break. My thinking was to slowly gather the pre-wwi copies I was missing, but now I'm leaning toward scanning the more interesting articles and then selling most/all of them.

A complete 'set' was recently auctioned - not sure if it met the reserve.

[coco]

You can spray them with a DE acidification spray available at archival distributors. It will tend to soften the paper and make it a little more flexible. The other option is to just buy the reproductions on EBay and leave the originals on the shelf for display. Probably your best bet if they are that fragile.

[Leon]

On very old and crumbling stock I have found the best thing to do is not handle them, as much as possible. If it were me, and I wanted to read them, I would probably go the reprint route and conserve/preserve the originals.

[Runscott]

There is something about holding and reading an old original publication, that just can't be matched by reprints. For me it's like the difference between reading the news on my computer instead of purchasing a newspaper. Works better with a cup of coffee than a computer.

[BlueSky]

Originally Posted by Runscott

There is something about holding and reading an old original publication, that just can't be matched by reprints. For me it's like the difference between reading the news on my computer instead of purchasing a newspaper. Works better with a cup of coffee than a computer.

+1

I love reading through original guides. It's a great feeling to hold a piece of history in my hands.

[Leon]

Originally Posted by Runscott

There is something about holding and reading an old original publication, that just can't be matched by reprints. For me it's like the difference between reading the news on my computer instead of purchasing a newspaper. Works better with a cup of coffee than a computer.

I agree completely on the reading of an old periodical with respect to it's feel.
I guess I was rather incorrectly equating it to my often used, working copy (read:reprint) of the ACC. I would only use my earliest original one for research on that issue itself. But for a single reading or two, I get it....There is nothing like the smell of old paper in the morning!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bPXVGQnJm0w

.

[ethicsprof]

Originally Posted by Runscott

There is something about holding and reading an old original publication, that just can't be matched by reprints. For me it's like the difference between reading the news on my computer instead of purchasing a newspaper. Works better with a cup of coffee than a computer.

very well said. I agree, wholeheartedly with your sentiments.
I have quite a few spalding and reach volumes in only fair condition that I
decided to protect on my bookshelves while still having them available to me
for reading every week or so. I bought some inexpensive hard cover albums for photos which were near the size of my volumes. I, then, removed the plastic sheets and placed the prized tomes between the hard covers. Not the best of all worlds but a great way to keep them from getting the life squeezed out of them in my bookcases.
all the best,
Barry

[barrysloate]

The pages of Spalding guides are glossy stock and hold up pretty well over time. The problem areas are the covers and bindings, which are very susceptible to damage. I have a partial set and the pages are near perfect, but many of my covers are in pretty bad shape.

[gnaz01]

Originally Posted by barrysloate

The pages of Spalding guides are glossy stock and hold up pretty well over time. The problem areas are the covers and bindings, which are very susceptible to damage. I have a partial set and the pages are near perfect, but many of my covers are in pretty bad shape.

Me too Barry, same thing here.

[Runscott]

The ones that I was going to 'preserve' for reading were not really all that valuable (coverless, etc.), but the pages were solid for reading.

I may actually purchase the reprints at some point - I already have them for several of the more expensive 1800's publications (Players League Guide, etc.).

I had reprints of some of Edward Curtis' volumes of "The North American Indian", but then I purchased one of the original volumes and the enjoyment of reading and handling the actual vintage pages is well worth it. Wish I could afford all of them, but one is still nice. Same for the photogravures. Looking at reprints of these would be similar to looking at baseball engraving reprints from the Spalding Guides - can't imagine it.