How do you deal with cover stickers?

I have received two autographed first editions with a big ol' "Signed by Author!" sticker on the front. The sticker itself really bothers me, and my OCD wants to remove them. Is there a standard practice on whether to leave them or remove them?

I detest stickers, but depending upon how well you think you can remove them without damaging the book jacket, you might just consider leaving them. The books were, after all, signed. A sticker is better than a mutilated jacket.

(I assume the books in question are hardbacks w/ jackets. Put a nice Brodart cover on them. I'm also assuming that you are interested in protecting value, in which case you'll want to put them on a shelf and never touch them again. Another advantage of having them on the shelf is that you won't have to look at the godawful stickers. Later, should you chose to cash in on your investment, sell with the covers/stickers intact, and let the next owner deal with it.)

Thanks. That is pretty much what I thought, but it was annoying me. lol. I recently picked up an antique barrister bookcase to keep them in. Not only will it help keep dust away, but the doors are hard to comfortably open. That should keep others from touching :-)

This is a new thing for me, and I only recently realized that once I buy a new book, I cannot read it! It almost makes me laugh. I started this collection, because I love books. Now my collection prevents me from reading them. I guess I need to get doubles. One for reading and one for saving!

A lot of people do buy doubles for precisely this reason. I probably shouldn't be posting in this group, as I am not a collector in that sense. The only signed editions I've ever acquired have been thrift store finds. But I do get fanatical about the mylar covers, and I'm at least conscious about book values, even though that isn't my reason for buying books.

But that's just me. To each his own, and building a collection of fine first editions is a wonderful hobby/investment.

Ronsonol lighter fluid. Nothing works better. Melts the adhesive enough to lift stickers (the newer the better generally) and cleans up glossy stock. Also evaporates quickly and doesn't leave oily residue on regular paper.

won't the book burn or be scarred when you apply the flame to the lighter fluid?

Not as long as you keep it below fahrenheit 451.

Ronsonal works for me. Forget about flame!

I use something called "goo gone"

You have to be careful with Goo Gone. If its not a glossy cover, it can soak in and then you have a stain and the weird lemony scent to deal with.

Very true, thanks for noting that caveat, Makifat. I only use Goo Gone on glossy covers. I don't remove stickers from non-glossy covers. I would be wary of using lighter fluid on a non-glossy cover as well.

I keep hearing that Bestine is better than Goo Gone, but it is almost impossible to find.

Just a few clicks away from your mailbox through Amazon: http://amzn.to/goiDqG

I was so surprised when I first realized that if I really wanted to collect books, then I couldn't read them. I do try to buy reading copies when I can, but more often my love of reading overcomes my love of collecting and I read them anyway.

Every book that I collect I read them carefully. In the end your buying a first edition first printing or a fine press limited edition of some author for yourself. If you handle your books carefully then I see no reason why you can't be able to enjoy them as long as you can. For me personally books are meant to be read

Use a cigarette lighter's chemical, benzene (used to ignite the lighter with a small flame to light your cigarette ) onto the book sticker. Use a small amount
of benzene, and rub lightly on the sticker with a piece
of disposable cloth, the chemical will react with the glue on the underside of the sticker, and peel the sticker gently.

It will work !

If you use benzene, be sure to have plenty of ventilation and don't use it a great deal. See the Wikipedia article about benzene after where it says 'Benzene exposure has serious health effects.'

Do not breathe in the vapour of benzene. Use a face mask to cover your nose, and avoid eye contact with the vapour = Precautions to be taken. Careful.

Use the minimum or least amount require of benzene. Best and effective way, but take a precaution in handling the chemical. Is there any effective way to do it?

Best to do it outside, unless it's raining. ;)

Fortunately lighter fluid is not benzene. It is butane or naphtha. They too need to be used with caution. See http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_is_the_chemical_name_of_lighter_fluid