We've opened hundreds of boxes of books that were damaged during packing — spines cracked under weight, jackets torn from poor wrapping, water damage from improper storage. Packing books correctly is a skill. Here's the professional version.
Before You Pack: Do a Quick Triage
Pull out anything that might be valuable and pack it separately. Candidates:
- Hardcovers with dust jackets from before 1970.
- Anything signed or inscribed.
- Leather-bound books or matching sets.
- Anything that looks or feels old.
- Books with illustrated plates or fold-out maps.
- Southwest, Native American, or New Mexico interest.
These get wrapped individually. Common paperbacks don't.
Boxes: Size and Quality
Use small to medium boxes. Books are heavy. A large box full of books will fail at the bottom and weigh 80 pounds. Ideal boxes:
- Bankers boxes (file boxes) — built to hold heavy paper. Perfect for most books.
- Liquor store boxes — reinforced, split vertically, often free.
- Medium moving boxes — double-walled preferred.
- Flat-rate USPS boxes — for shipping individual books.
Avoid: over-large boxes, boxes with structural damage, boxes that have been stored in damp basements.
Packing Method
For Common Books (Paperbacks, Book-Club Hardcovers)
- Line the box with newspaper or packing paper.
- Pack books spine-down or flat — never fore-edge-down.
- Fill empty space with paper to prevent shifting.
- Close and label by category (fiction, reference, cookbooks, etc.) — saves us time and gets you faster evaluation.
For Valuable Hardcovers with Jackets
- Wrap each book in glassine or acid-free paper. If unavailable, plain white paper works.
- Place in a mylar jacket protector if available. This is the single best thing you can do.
- Do NOT use plastic bags or shrink-wrap — trapped humidity causes mold.
- Place wrapped books flat in the box — never standing, never spine-down.
- Separate layers with cardboard dividers.
For Antiquarian or Very Fragile Books
- Wrap in acid-free tissue or glassine.
- Place in a custom-fit archival box or wrap in a stiff cardboard sleeve.
- Transport separately, hand-carried if possible.
- Call us first — for anything significant, we can come to you rather than have you move fragile material.
What Not to Do
- Don't use plastic bags. They trap moisture. Mold is catastrophic.
- Don't use newspaper as direct wrapping for valuable books. The ink transfers.
- Don't pack spine-up. This stresses the binding glue.
- Don't pack too tightly. Books need to slide out, not wedge out.
- Don't ship without a spine-board. For valuable single hardcovers, cut a piece of cardboard to the size of the book as a stiff backing.
- Don't use tape directly on the jacket or cover. Ever.
- Don't store in a garage, basement, or shed. Even overnight, temperature swings can damage bindings.
If You're Selling to Us
You don't need to pack perfectly. We'd rather evaluate books in situ than have them damaged during packing. If your collection is large, call or text 702-496-4214 and we'll come to you. We bring our own boxes, bubble wrap, and moving supplies. We've moved estate libraries of 3,000+ books — we know how.
If You're Shipping Books
Use USPS Media Mail for books shipped within the U.S. It's cheap, insured, and specifically designed for books. Double-box valuable items. Insure anything over $100.