Dust covers

Do you prefer the dust covers left on your Everymans, when stored in your bookcases?
I don't keep dust covers on any of my books, but even if I did as a rule, I think I would take them off the Everymans - the colours look too good to cover up (esp when you have a few).

I love them both ways.

As a rule: Leave them on. My old ones, with the thin brown paper they used in the earliest days just look fantastic lined up. All three of 'em. The brand new ones I see in stores have very attractive jacket designs, so I'd leave those on too, if I had them. Come to think of it, if it came with a jacket I'd leave it on. If it didn't, I'd always wish it did. A disparaging eye falls on my Virginibus Puerisque....

I have to agree with #1. They look great without the covers with the coloured bindings blending very well with each other. Only problem is that I have far too many contemporary books so the red dominates. What a great excuse to buy some of the older authors. I keep all the covers together in alphabetic order so that they can be put back on if the need dictates.

Wow, up until the point when I read #4, I'd never even thought about ordering my Everyman's by author, only by colour. I think there's something wrong with me! They now look even better in the bookcase.

I always take off the dust covers. The underlying books look great and feel great.

I always leave my dust jackets on the books. In this way, I never have to wonder "Where's the book that cover belongs to?" And don't have to find a separate place for the covers either. Additionally, I protect my dust jackets with Brodart covers So far, I only have one Everyman's Library volume, but that's almost guaranteed to change.

I have 73 everyman books and the do look good without covers.

> 8

I have quite a few too. They are naked on my shelves but I dress them when I read them. Just tonight I took down the Odyssey and slipped on the cover to read over the next week or so.

I hadn't quite thought of that...too late now.