Help with preserving old Spalding Guides

[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.

[barrysloate]

I also have a complete Horton reprint set, which includes Spalding guides from 1876-1905, plus the 1890 Player's League guide. They are very useful for research, but not as much fun as the originals. There weren't many printed photographs during those years, but for the few issues that have them, the photo quality is poor.

[Gary Dunaier]

I actually prefer reprints, not only because they're cheaper but because it allows me to "collect without responsibility" - which simply means that I can read it without having to worry about making sure it stays in Gem Mint 10.

[Runscott]

Gary, I started this thread explaining that these weren't anywhere near 'Gem Mint 10' - they are in a condition generally referred to by collectors as 'reading copies'. I guess that implies that they have other copies that are in much better condition, but I'm not sure, as I've only ever pursued 'reading copies'.

[Gary Dunaier]

Originally Posted by Runscott

Gary, I started this thread explaining that these weren't anywhere near 'Gem Mint 10' - they are in a condition generally referred to by collectors as 'reading copies'.

You said nothing of the sort! Stop lying. I'm gonna take you on Maury Povich show and have you hooked up to a lie detector and they're gonna prove you're telling a lie. Maury is gonna read the results, and it'll go something like this: Runscott, when you were asked about the condition of your 1800's Spalding and Reach Baseball Guides, you said they have fragile covers and bindings.

And the lie detector determined that you were telling... the truth...

Originally Posted by Runscott

I have a group of 1800's Spalding and Reach Baseball Guides that have fragile covers and bindings.

Never mind.



In all seriousness, my reference to "Gem Mint 10" wasn't specifically directed toward the condition of your books. The main point of my "collect without responsibility" philosophy when it comes to reprints is that I can read, and enjoy, a reprint without worrying about having to handle it carefully to make sure it stays in whatever condition it's in - be it Gem Mint 10, or in the case of your books, without having to worry about paper flakes.

[CBishop]

Hi Barry,

Do you have a 1887 Spalding Guide? Is there information about the White Stockings and the color of their uniforms? We are working on colorizing a black and white photo from 1887.

Thanks Barry,

CB