I just received a hardcover book in the mail and it had really cheap paper. I would pay extra for better paper that is going to last a while. Is there a way to obtain that? At least the outside edges were smooth and not ragged. Thanks

Unless you can find the same book printed by a different publisher, I don’t believe you’ll be able to pick and choose what sort of paper it’s printed on. I do agree, though, that some types of paper are better than others.

In my experience, though, the only time I have had bad experiences with paper was with the cheap(!) paperbacks printed in the 1940s into the early '60s. Although the paper would often become discolored, probably because of residual acid, the real problem would be if the bindings just fell apart. I don't recall actual problems with more recent hardcovers even if the paper seemed a little cheap.

I’ve found books ordered from Amazon that are reprints of out-of-copyright older books. The vendor takes the order, does a one-time print of the book you ordered, and mails it out—that’s the way it appears. Paper quality is potluck.

I've found that the best quality paper is often in
"Trade Paperback" printings...besides their larger print.

If it's important enough to you, you could get these rebound

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Good idea. My neurology text from years ago has not yellowed a bit and is on that slick white paper, perhaps that was part of the rather exorbitant cost.

I recently received one of my Mother’s childhood books, “Stories from Uncle Remus” by Joel Chandler Harris. She would have been 94 yesterday, so it is not a young book. Reading through it I was amazed that all the pages seemed like *heavy* cardstock. They don’t make them like they used to …

quote:

Originally posted by slosig:
They don’t make them like they used to …

Manufacturers, by and large, have moved away from what folks "want" to what they'll "accept".

It isn't so much what they think folks will pay for, because folks who will pay more will select expensive choices or pay to have what they want

I just got rid of a 1911 edition of the Encyclopedia Britanica. The paper was (I assume) cotton-rag, and was very slightly discolored, but just as tough and usable as the day it was produced. The leather COVERS, however, were often just dust.

Check out the Folio Society.