Laura Corin Posted January 29, 2023 Share Posted January 29, 2023 (edited) My mum collected first editions of books illustrated by Arthur Rackham. Her house became so damp that the covers are actually mouldy, so rather than being worth over a thousand pounds each, they have no monetary worth as volumes. She would not accept help to fix her house. I have talked to an antiquarian bookseller about them. My brothers have no interest in the volumes, which form part of her legacy. My plan is to - - cut off and throw away the covers - they are completely disgusting and uncleanable - frame some illustrations for one of our own walls - frame one each for each descendant, so my brothers and their children - keep back child-suitable ones to frame and give to any future great grandchildren that Mum never met Any other ideas? There are five or six volumes - maybe 50 to 100 plates? https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arthur_Rackham Edited January 29, 2023 by Laura Corin 11 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eos Posted January 29, 2023 Share Posted January 29, 2023 What a lovely idea. I'm so sorry they were destroyed. Maybe someone who does decoupage would want them? https://www.etsy.com/market/decoupage_fine_art 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LifeLovePassion Posted January 29, 2023 Share Posted January 29, 2023 Mixed media artists would probably buy them. I've seen lots of pages sell on ebay and Etsy. 3 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hannah Posted January 29, 2023 Share Posted January 29, 2023 I'd be tempted to use it as wallpaper for a bathroom or other small accent wall. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Innisfree Posted January 29, 2023 Share Posted January 29, 2023 Around here, individual plates from old books are often sold for their decorative value, mostly ending up framed. There might be a market in antique or print shops. 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miss Tick Posted January 29, 2023 Share Posted January 29, 2023 Probably too much hassle to do your own Etsy store? If you have a large wall, I like the look of a bunch of frames hung close together filling the wall. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Katy Posted January 29, 2023 Share Posted January 29, 2023 I’m under the impression you can treat the mold by freezing the books then wiping them with rubbing alcohol. But the mold will return if the book gets humid again. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura Corin Posted January 29, 2023 Author Share Posted January 29, 2023 (edited) 53 minutes ago, Katy said: I’m under the impression you can treat the mold by freezing the books then wiping them with rubbing alcohol. But the mold will return if the book gets humid again. Unfortunately this is no longer a surface issue. The boards have decayed through and started to disintegrate. There is no surface to wipe. Edited January 29, 2023 by Laura Corin 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SKL Posted January 29, 2023 Share Posted January 29, 2023 For a temporary solution, you could put them in photo albums the way we used to store photographs. Maybe some artistically-inclined person would enjoy having the entire album, or maybe you'd find additional uses for them over time. If you have time and money, maybe consider framing some for nearby libraries, pediatric wards, or other nonprofit kid-oriented places? 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stephanier.1765 Posted January 29, 2023 Share Posted January 29, 2023 9 minutes ago, SKL said: If you have time and money, maybe consider framing some for nearby libraries, pediatric wards, or other nonprofit kid-oriented places? I love this idea! I bet they would be thrilled to get such beautiful illustrations for their walls. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SKL Posted January 29, 2023 Share Posted January 29, 2023 10 minutes ago, SKL said: For a temporary solution, you could put them in photo albums the way we used to store photographs. Maybe some artistically-inclined person would enjoy having the entire album, or maybe you'd find additional uses for them over time. If you have time and money, maybe consider framing some for nearby libraries, pediatric wards, or other nonprofit kid-oriented places? A further thought, since there are so many pictures, what about creating a service project for a bunch of young people to frame and donate them to organizations, low income families, etc.? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MercyA Posted January 29, 2023 Share Posted January 29, 2023 I think your idea is perfect. I personally would not want to cut up the illustrations or sell them piecemeal. I would send photos of the illustrations to family members and allow each to choose their favorite(s) to be framed. I wouldn't necessarily limit the descendants to only one each, as the illustrations would likely look very nice displayed as a small group. If there are any left, they could be saved for future descendants. 4 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kiwik Posted January 30, 2023 Share Posted January 30, 2023 Book for little kids? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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