'The book doesn't have any particular emotional ties – it wasn't given to me by a loved one, nor found in any special place. I didn't read it for the first time one unforgettable night. But – for reasons that seem unclear and perhaps a bit odd now I come to examine them – I just wouldn't get rid of it, or replace it with a new copy'
Photograph: David Barnett
'One of the first book covers by the late Ron Walotsky' Photograph: Kimiye
'I think this book came from a short-lived toyshop in the town where I was brought up. As you can see, it's been read a lot. It has what I'd now call historic Sellotape mends, but even they have failed now. I don't read this copy any more, as I have a reasonably smart first edition hardback which is a lot more robust. Just can't quite bring myself to recycle this one' Photograph: saveirchesterlibrary
'This 1940 Penguin sheds brown flakes of paper every time it is opened. A perfect example of the 20th century acid paper deterioration - especially the poor wartime stock' Photograph: Sculpture Kris
'Penguin classics'
Photograph: apenguinaweek
'I don't recall who gave me this book, but I've had it over 60 years. Many of the pages are torn or scuffed; the corners are worn and the cover and spine are broken away from the front end; the back holding on with just a few inches of paper over the crack' Photograph: rastar
'Practically everybody in my class at school read this copy before I got my hands on it. And then I read it just as many times again' Photograph: jay_queue
'I found this old atlas on a paper recycling skip when I was 11. I remember the day vividly – it was a Friday afternoon and for some reason our English teacher allowed us to root through the skip and rescue any interesting looking printed material. This is what I found. I didn't look at it in detail until I got home but I do remember the excitement I felt – I knew I'd found something very old' Photograph: seriykotik1970
'The 1962 edition, which I have owned since 1989' Photograph: teufelbeutel
