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13 Feb, 2012
2012-2-13 9:18:26 PM UTC
Trotter, I forgot to ask: how did you guess?

BH
14 Feb, 2012
2012-2-14 3:15:56 PM UTC

Deagol wrote:
Elwe - What did you use to clean it?

I didn't do much to clean that copy of the SD Hobbit. It had a somewhat waxy, but dry residue (a little of which was powdery), primarily in the hinge area, to each side of the spine. However, in my case, it was a brand new book with pristine leather, not faded or worn whatsoever. To remove the residue, I used a very soft dry cloth at first, which removed most. For a couple stubborn spots, I very lightly dampened the corner of said cloth with water. I wiped the residue clean and followed with the dry cloth. Probably not the best practice, but the damp cloth never came close to paper, and wasn't allowed to remain on the leather for more than a second or two. Although I never observed any ill effects of my treatment, if faced with the same situation again I would probably only use the dry microfiber.

You would think there would be 'leather conditioning' products available specifically for books, but I don't know of anything I would use regularly or trust for use on rare or antiquarian books. I know that the best thing for leather books is actually to handle them and allow the oils from your hands to condition the leather. However, my hands are usually so dry that they would be pulling oil from the book instead of giving it, and most of my books never get handled anyway for fear of damaging them. So, what to do?...

That said, if it were copy #90 of the Super Deluxe Silmarillion (or any other copy of the SD Silmarillion) that needed cleaning, I wouldn't touch it. If any restoration/cleaning were required, I would send to a professional. If this were an Easton Press Silmarillion, I might consider attempting to clean it myself, but those books are easy to replace and relatively cheap - not even in the same category as the Super Deluxe Sil.

Congratulations to whomever is the new proud owner of #90!

-Steve
14 Feb, 2012 (edited)
2012-2-14 7:09:41 PM UTC
I think we all know who the proud owner is (Khamul), congratulations once again (no editing of my post this time)
14 Feb, 2012
2012-2-14 9:10:54 PM UTC
Yes, okay, it's me! Apologies for editing your post Trotter .

I just wanted to gauge opinion of the auction itself without the bias of everyone knowing I bought it. (I didn't actually have it when I first opened the thread.) I'm totally bloody smitten! [There are some issues with the condition, but I'll ignore them for now...]

BH
14 Feb, 2012
2012-2-14 10:30:37 PM UTC
Congrats Khamul. I know you have been searching for a copy for a long time.
14 Feb, 2012
2012-2-14 10:35:05 PM UTC
Cheers! I'll post some pictures up in a bit.

BH
15 Feb, 2012
2012-2-15 3:01:45 AM UTC

Khamul wrote:
Cheers! I'll post some pictures up in a bit.

BH


Glad it was someone from TCG that got it (and for love, not profit!). It always irks me when one of the major dealers picks things like this up.

Stu

PS. I may have to kill you and steal it, though :)
16 Feb, 2012
2012-2-16 5:23:49 PM UTC
Yes, Khamul, I am also pleased that someone here got it. In fact, I can't think of anyone I would rather had won it. (Well, maybe one person ... )

- wellinghall
16 Feb, 2012
2012-2-16 5:37:34 PM UTC
What Wellinghall said..

Well Done!
16 Feb, 2012
2012-2-16 7:12:00 PM UTC
Stu said it all for me
At last a collector got hold of a bargain/good book and not a dealer (with respect to all dealers of course).

That being said you could have brought 3 unfinished tales for that price and the spines would have looked better ! :)
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