A well-made book properly looked after can last for a very long time. Our books are designed to open well, so there should be no need to force them open or crack the spine, which will weaken the binding. Books should also be kept away from sources of heat, which can distort the shape of a book; moisture, which can permanently damage the binding, the textblock, and any inscriptions you have made inside; and sunlight, which can fade the colours of the binding (this is especially important for leather bindings).
There is no need to apply a leather dressing or polish to our leather-bound books. We have applied a thin coating of a microcrystalline wax specially formulated by the British Museum to these bindings, which provides excellent protection against everyday handling.