Thanks for the additional info. I will be keeping them on their own shelf then. I think I will have these for many years to come.

Keeping leather books, especially new ones, in good condition is largely a matter of good bookcare in general. It is particularly important that you keep your hands clean and dry when handling the books as oils and dirt can blemish the leather rather easily. As your books are new careful handling and storage should suffice.

In years past it was the practice to treat leather covers and binding with a leather dressing like lanolin or neetsfoot oil. Today most professional institutions like the The American Institute for Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works (AIC), the Library of Congress and the Northeast Document Conservation Center (NEDCC) recommend against leather dressings as they can cause “discoloration, staining, and stickiness of the leather, wicking of oil into adjoining materials including text blocks, and increased danger of mold growth on treated materials.”

It is best to keep a space between your leather bound books and other books that are paperbound or have an uncovered paper dust jacket as the acid in the paper can, over time stain the leather. Dust jackets that are covered with a plastic protective cover can live quite comfortably next to their leather neighbors.

Congratulations on your purchase. I’m sure they’ll give you many year of enjoyment!

Is there anything I should know about keeping leather books in good condition? Can I keep them with cloth covered books?

Bruce from Book Mailers