Protective Book Covers

[chrispenycate]

Side question; I live in a very small flat, and all available wall space is taken up with bookshelf.
My collaborator/boss/musician lives in a medaeval château, and buys masses of junk books to put in his library so it looks full. The only important detail is that they be leather bound, and look old. He refuses to room any of my overflow, in that it would bring down the tone of the place.
What would be nice would be some cheap outer covers that would simiulate worn leather bindings and just slip on over the garish paperbacks. If, in addition, one could write the titles and authors in simulated gold leaf, so much the better.
Any ideas?

[Trey Greyjoy]

Great idea chrispenycate.
The only suggestion I have is this;
I have seen in both restaurants and furniture stores "fake" book spines set on shelves to give the place a nicer look. Now sometimes they are just spines cut off of old books, probably purchased in bulk at book fairs and glued to wooden blocks. Other times they appear to have been manufactured and just cardboard standups.
So, maybe somewhere someone sells such an item to place in front of the paperbacks? Sorry this isnt more specific help, but maybe a slight nudge in a potentially helpful direction ?

[Nesacat]

I'm careful with my books and the only one in a covering of any sort is the one I carry with me in my bag to read on the go since I carry everything and all and sundry in my backpack. Otherwise none are covered and I like looking at and touching my books; occasionally picking one off the shelf to browse.

I agree about putting them face down and dog-earing the pages though. That's a terrible thing to do to books.

I guess I just like the feel of books. I don't often loan my books now. There have been too many occasions of books being irreparably damaged or just plain lost, but I do have a few friends I regularly loan books to and borrow books from. They are all people who also care for books.

[KJS]

Originally Posted by Nesacat

I'm careful with my books and the only one in a covering of any sort is the one I carry with me in my bag to read on the go since I carry everything and all and sundry in my backpack. Otherwise none are covered and I like looking at and touching my books; occasionally picking one off the shelf to browse.

I agree about putting them face down and dog-earing the pages though. That's a terrible thing to do to books.

I guess I just like the feel of books. I don't often loan my books now. There have been too many occasions of books being irreparably damaged or just plain lost, but I do have a few friends I regularly loan books to and borrow books from. They are all people who also care for books.

I agree, i all s0 like the look and feel of books and i will allways look after them but when i do get too many i give the ones i don't want anymore to my local libary.