an early 17th century book - wow, how do preserve it? The oldest book I have dates to the late 19th century and it’s in pretty good nick
Easier than you might think. We’re not talking here of something extremely rare and valuable - so many ‘Breeches’ copies were printed, and kept as the ‘family bible’ for generations, that there are still plenty of early editions around. So unless you’re striving for museum-quality conservation, it’s largely a matter of common sense. Don’t handle too often, but always with clean hands (preferably cotton or silk gloves) and keep it lying flat in a stable climate (not too many changes of temperature/humidity). Luckily I have climate control for my piano room (I’m a pianist) so keep it there.
The main challenge is preserving the leather-bound wooden covers and binding. The paper itself is of such high quality that there’s little or no deterioration if these precautions are taken.