Care Guide

When it arrives

• Open your parcel carefully, avoiding sharp blades near the book.
• If your book has travelled through hot or cold weather, let it rest at room temperature for a few hours before opening it.
• A freshly bound book can feel a little stiff at first. Open it gently and let the spine ease in over your first read.

Storing your books

• Always store your book upright on a shelf, supported by neighbouring books or bookends so the spine doesn't lean or warp.
• Take care when sliding books in and out of the shelf. Don't let them rub too hard against other books, as the vinyl can scratch.
• Don't pack the shelf too tightly, so there's room to move books without squeezing or scraping them.
• Keep it out of direct sunlight, as prolonged sun can fade covers and colours over time.
• Store it away from moisture and humidity, and keep it somewhere dry, away from heaters, windowsills, bathrooms and kitchens.

Reading & handling

• Always handle with clean, dry hands. Oils, dirt, lotions and moisture can mark the cover and edges.
• Don't lay the book face-down open or fold back the covers, as this strains the spine.
• Use a bookmark rather than folding page corners.
• Pull the book from the shelf by the middle of the spine, not the top edge (the headcap).

Covers & foil

• Covers are bound in coated buckram cloth, which is durable and resists everyday marks. To clean, wipe gently with a soft, dry cloth.
• Avoid water, cleaning sprays and chemicals on the covers and foil.
• Foil and vinyl details are delicate, so don't rub or scratch them.

Sprayed Edges

Your sprayed edges are hand painted, not printed. That's what makes each one unique, and it also means they need a little extra care.

• It's completely fine to read your book. Turning the pages won't make the edges come off.
• Avoid scratching the edges with your nails or hard surfaces. This can leave marks and scratches.
• Darker colours, especially black, show marks and scratches the most, so take extra care with these.
• Keep edges dry and avoid rubbing them against other books or surfaces.

Please note: because every edge is painted by hand, some imperfections are part of the process.

• Small marks may be present on sprayed edges, particularly in darker colours. This is inevitable with hand-painted edges.
• Some light bleeding of colour onto the page may appear on some pages. I minimise this as much as humanly possible, but it can't be avoided entirely.

A few things that are completely normal

Because these books are handmade with natural and faux-leather materials, a few small quirks can appear, and they're all easily managed.

• Slight bowing of the cover? This is totally normal and easy to fix! Simply place your book under a few heavy books (other hardcovers work perfectly) and leave it for 1–2 days. The weight gently flattens it back into shape. This can happen with changes in temperature or humidity and is nothing to worry about.
• Faux leather bubbling or lifting slightly? Also normal, and a quick fix! Just smooth it over gently with clean, dry fingers, pressing from the centre outwards. The warmth of your hands helps it settle back down beautifully.
• Small variations or imperfections? Each book is made entirely by hand, one at a time, so tiny inconsistencies are natural. They're the fingerprint of something handcrafted, and part of what makes your piece truly one-of-a-kind. No two will ever be exactly alike.