Caring for your books

[delericho]

I'm the proud owner of all three 1st edition core reprints. I'm sure they'll get well used for the duration of my DnD "career". So far they are living in a satchel.

Well, first thing - don't keep them in a satchel! That's a recipe for them getting battered, especially at the corners. Take them out, put them on a shelf, or table, or briefcase. But only put them in the satchel when actually transporting them.

I'm wondering how you guys try to keep your books in good shape?

On a bookshelf. But I try not to worry about it too much - most of the books aren't held in undue reverence, while the ones that are hold that status as a result of being well-used. My original 2nd Ed PHB is pretty battered, but those scars are hard-won. (My 3.5e PHB, FWIW, is clearly used but is actually in very good condition, despite actually seeing more use than the 2nd Ed one. WotC did a good job on those core rulebooks.)

Also, while I like the newness of these books, I'm stuck as to whether I should do my best to keep them in great shape, or just forget about it, and allow them to show their age as they get used over time.

Either bag them and keep them in mint condition, or use them and don't worry about it. (And if you've used them already, the 'mint' option is no longer available.) If you really can't choose, I suppose you could get a second set for display purposes.

 

[dagger]

Here is what I did at Kinkos since the binding on 1e Unearthed Arcana's are so bad.
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$5

 

[AwesomeOpossum74]

Mind made up ... Those books are gonna get USED!

 

[possum]

Here is what I did at Kinkos since the binding on 1e Unearthed Arcana's are so bad.
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$5

I see a lot of the Flames of War players at my local game store do that with the majority of their books, mainly for ease of access when at the minis table.

 

[Scrivener of Doom]

I am careful with all of my books - not just the RPG ones - so I am very careful about who I let use them. Some people can destroy a book in a matter of minutes - they don't get to use mine.

The most important thing for preserving my books is that almost all of my RPG books are backed up as PDF copies. I haven't completed my Dragon collection yet but I have every Dungeon magazine as a PDF. I'm obviously happy to share my PDFs with any player in my games as they cannot exactly be damaged.

Right now I am listening to the carpenters saw more timber for my first ever purpose-built library. As I will be the only one with a key - or, to be more precise, with two keys - I suspect my books are going to be quite well-preserved for some time.

 

[Grogg of the North]

My books are all loved and abused. The corners on most of them are all battered.