evah40•16d ago

Why does nobody mention the smell of old hardcovers from estate sales?

Last month I hit up an estate sale in a 1920s house outside Portland and grabbed a stack of 1960s sci-fi hardcovers for $2 each. The second I opened the first one, that musky, papery smell hit me, like dust and old leather and someone's attic all mixed together. Three years ago I would've passed on them, thought they were gross and musty. Now I actually seek it out, it's half the fun of the hunt. The covers were faded and the spines were cracked, but the stories inside were still sharp. I've learned that smell usually means the book was well kept, not rotting, just aging. Am I weird for sniffing my finds before I even check the pages? Anyone else got a ritual like that?