According to recent research, old books smell a lot like chocolate and coffee, thanks to certain chemical compounds. A combination of grassy notes with a tang of acids and a hint of vanilla over an underlying mustiness is how an international team of chemists describes the unique odor of old books in a study. The quest to better describe the scent of old books. Older comics have a smell that is truly unique and full of nostalgia.
No matter whether you prefer heartwarming classics or heartpounding thrillers, your personal library of paperbacks and hardcovers runs the risk of collecting a fair amount of dust and a musty. I was reading an old issue of marvel comics presents from the 90s when flipping through the pages i got a whif of the pages. Newsprint used for comic books is highly absorbent stuff, so what you smell is. In older comics, it is mentioned that she and sheila stapleton were best friends. But as books age, they can start to have an unpleasant, musty smell. Comic book aficionados thumbed through thousands of comics at everett. It comes from the paper decaying with age, particularly the chemicals used in making the paper in the first place.
That acidic smell comic book grading and restoration. Who doesnt have a comic book that brings back specific memories. Despite your best efforts, though, you may find mold or mildew on your books. To remove the musty smell from old books, first make sure they are dry.
A combination of grassy notes with a tang of acids and a hint of vanilla over an underlying mustiness is how an international team of chemists describes the unique. How to get rid of a musty smell in books thoughtco. Below, youll find some tips on how to get rid of the bad odor from your books. I like the smell of old comics especially 80s90s comics. Prints, old magazines and other paper items can all be saved using this proven. Between drying the pages and using an absorbent to remove odors, you can remove the mildew smell from your beloved books. Theres something great about the smell of an old comic book, like breathing in a bit of history and connecting to a time long gone.
Smelling funny cartoons from cartoonstock directory the worlds largest online collection of cartoons and comics. How to easily killremove mildew and mold spores mad maine. Big nate is an american comic strip written and illustrated by lincoln peirce. Vintage comic book with musty smell the ebay community. The cellulose chains that form the paper break down in the presence of moisture, heat, light, and atmospheric pollutants, thereby forming acids this is called acid hydrolysis.
This video is about how i get rid of that basement, moldy smell in comic books. So filthy out of context i smell dirty work, vintage comic book art. Smart news keeping you current that old book smell is a mix of grass and vanilla smell is chemistry, and the chemistry of old books gives your cherished tomes their scent. Is there a way to get a musty odor from comics stored in a basement. Theres something great about the smell of an old comic book, like breathing in a bit of history and. See how a fan and baking soda will freshen up musty smelling books. You only need 3 ingredients to removereduce mildew smells from old books, and you most likely have all of them in your kitchen. Researchers create odor wheel that breaks down the smell of old. Old attic or basement absolutely, its unfortunately called the grandmas and grandpa house smell. Old books are wonderful treasures to come across and can even be worth money. Downtown smells will eisner, comic books art, comic layout. However, many old books carry a distinct, musty smell. This smell should be distinctive from the normal old comic book smell which i believe is caused by acid migration from inside the paper. Us oldschool collectors, we like to read the books and smell them.
Does your secondhand score have that oldbook smell. If damp, open the books and stand them up with pages fanned to allow drying. You can smell it comics loveold comicscomics girlsvintage comic booksvintage comicscomic books artpop artcomic. Matija strlic of university college london described it to the telegraph as a combination of grassy notes with a. Smell isnt included in the grading criteria that ive seen, but especially if its something like mold that signals deeper problems, it will probably lower the value. For people who love to read, books become friends they keep forever. The cheap newsprint often used in older comics decays quickly because theres a pretty high acid content in the paper acid that was used in helping to break down the wood so that it could be pressed flat as.