The Purple Parasol
Title
The Purple Parasol
Creator
George Barr McCutcheon
Publisher
New York: Dood, Mead and Company
Date
1905
Description
The Purple Parasol was chosen for our "Damaged Books" event to demonstrate the effects that food particles can have on books.
Through the simple act of eating over a work of literature, food particles spread over the pages creating damage that at times can look visually close to that of foxing. In this book; however, the food particle damage is the sporadic staining throughout its pages. These stains vary in size, as well as in coloring, with darker or more visual spots delineating places wherein the presence of food particles was particularly heavy. As is the nature of food particles on books, these stains will gradually become more prominent as this type of damage is slow to decay.
Additional damage includes yellowing of the paper due to acidification of the wood pulp paper, rubbing to the head and tailcaps due to shelfwear, and bumping of the corners, also due to shelfwear. The loss of the gilt in the 'M' of the author's name on the front cover is also a victim of shelfwear.
Through the simple act of eating over a work of literature, food particles spread over the pages creating damage that at times can look visually close to that of foxing. In this book; however, the food particle damage is the sporadic staining throughout its pages. These stains vary in size, as well as in coloring, with darker or more visual spots delineating places wherein the presence of food particles was particularly heavy. As is the nature of food particles on books, these stains will gradually become more prominent as this type of damage is slow to decay.
Additional damage includes yellowing of the paper due to acidification of the wood pulp paper, rubbing to the head and tailcaps due to shelfwear, and bumping of the corners, also due to shelfwear. The loss of the gilt in the 'M' of the author's name on the front cover is also a victim of shelfwear.
Identifier
SPECIAL PS3525 .A187 Pu 1905
Language
English
Relation
To see this book on November 14, 2019 in the "Event Photographs" Collection, please go here [Photograph of Books] IMG 1406.
This book is included in the following video:
Want a little spaghetti with your Don Quixote?
This book is also featured in our Beautiful Books digital exhibit. To see those records, please use these links: The Purple Parasol and The Purple Parasol.
This book is included in the following video:
Want a little spaghetti with your Don Quixote?
This book is also featured in our Beautiful Books digital exhibit. To see those records, please use these links: The Purple Parasol and The Purple Parasol.
Text
How food particles attach to books
While the famous movie pie-throwing scenes might be the first thing that comes to mind as to how this could happen, unless that happens in a library, this is just not plausible. And any self-respecting librarian would first have a heart attack before allowing this to happen.
No, the more mundane explanation of eating over our books is how food ends up inside….unless it is a cookbook and is sitting on the counter that the food is being prepared on.
While the famous movie pie-throwing scenes might be the first thing that comes to mind as to how this could happen, unless that happens in a library, this is just not plausible. And any self-respecting librarian would first have a heart attack before allowing this to happen.
No, the more mundane explanation of eating over our books is how food ends up inside….unless it is a cookbook and is sitting on the counter that the food is being prepared on.
_______
How can food particles in my book be avoided? // What should I do about food particles on my pages?
The best way to avoid this happening is to not read and eat at the same time. If this cannot be avoided, have the book further away from you and the food closer to you while you eat. Please be cautious about splashing the food though as the food can still fly into the book (been there, done that). When cooking, try to keep the cookbook on a higher counter or in another room (yes, not convenient, but….).
If you notice food fly into or onto a book, remove as quickly and gently as possible. Foxing will occur later down the road, but at least no one will be able to put the page under a microscope and know what you had for dinner.
How can food particles in my book be avoided? // What should I do about food particles on my pages?
The best way to avoid this happening is to not read and eat at the same time. If this cannot be avoided, have the book further away from you and the food closer to you while you eat. Please be cautious about splashing the food though as the food can still fly into the book (been there, done that). When cooking, try to keep the cookbook on a higher counter or in another room (yes, not convenient, but….).
If you notice food fly into or onto a book, remove as quickly and gently as possible. Foxing will occur later down the road, but at least no one will be able to put the page under a microscope and know what you had for dinner.
Original Format
Text taken from informational panel(s) created for the November 14, 2019 event.
Collection
Citation
George Barr McCutcheon, “The Purple Parasol,” Damaged Books, accessed May 18, 2024, https://damagedbooks.omeka.net/items/show/72.