In the process of cleaning out my grandmothers house we found the family bible. It is quite large dates to 1874, and is in German. I have possession of this for now and need to safely store it here at the house.

What is the best way to store this safely? I'm pretty sure its current location on the dining room table is not the best.

Acid free archival paper, plastic bag and box, in a climate controlled and dark area. (in the box will suffice)

Do not expose to sunlight or UV (fluorescent) and wear clean white cotton or nitrile gloves when handling.

(Same as older documents, photos and films)

Think about storing in an airtight plastic bucket with dry ice to kill any bugs that might continue to eat at the paper (years ago looked into this, not an expert).

Nitrogen gas would be better, CO2 interacts with water to form carbonic acid.

Find a bookbinder/restoration business in your area for best advice. I had a large family Bible (from 1882) restored a few years ago, great job, $300.

Darn you guys. Now I wonder what happened to our ancient family bible. Maybe my brother got it.

I agree with Sigmonkey as a general statement for rare books - other than Bibles.

I have a greatly reduced Bible collection and I offer practical recommendations specifically for your bible.

What I consider “rare”: Bibles according to existing copies, number printed, condition – very similar to stamp collecting but going back to 1380 for English text Bibles.

Quick reply: For rare Bibles: wrap in archival tissue and keep in an archival box – no plastic bags or desiccant pouches. Individual pages: archival sleeves. Everything else: open shelves or even table tops. As far as handling them: wash your hands first, gloves are not necessary and unless you use a page turner, can damage pages from attempting to turn them.

Please understand that individual Bibles were used for many years and the care given during that active use is the main reason for their current condition. Just use them with care.

Strange statement? Consider this: I have probably fifteen Bibles on an open shelf in my den. Most are family Bibles going back four generations in various conditions. The oldest of the others is a 1678 Psalms in Italian bound in vellum (sheepskin) and a non-bible 1651 Sermon on the Baptism of Children by Richard Baxter. I also have a mint condition leather bound first edition 1881 KJB New Testament (the New Testament was revised in 1881). On the wall next to these is a framed 1611 first edition Pulpit Folio KJB page. My other ancient leaves are in archival sleeves.

The only Bibles I keep in archival conditions are a first Quatro edition 1612 KJB “he” and a complete 1614 KJB Quattro. The 1612 was rebound in the late 1800’s using the original boards and the 1614 is completely original. Both are kept wrapped in archival tissue and archival boxes – only to keep them away from the grandkids!

I regularly read both Bibles and have hand carried the 1612 to share with my Sunday School class.
I also have used them when developing themes in my stained glass. These Bibles have many personal inscriptions written by owners indicating a continuous use of over 200 years.

All said and done, keep your family Bible where it can be seen and appreciated – but out of reach of little ones.

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Call a local museum and ask the curator how they do it.

With all due respect to our family history and heirlooms I’d also have to think “To what end?”

As it is right now something you can see, touch and enjoy. Talk about with others from time to time perhaps.

Once bundled, containered and better preserved what purpose will it serve? Worse, many things like that our kids and others dig out of the closet once we pass will be evaluated for value (none significant financially) and then likely assessed as not part of their motif and discarded.

I’d vote for enjoying now in the way less damaging.

quote:

I’d vote for enjoying now in the way less damaging.

We have many items of sentimental value passed down from parents and grandparents; our kids seem to have little to no interest in them. Maybe that will grow later, but I think if the younger generation didn't know the older ones personally, there's little interest.