BOOK CONDITION IS ALWAYS DISPLAYED FIRST AND THE
DUSTJACKET SECOND. FOR EXAMPLE, A BOOK DESCRIBED
AS: FINE/NEAR FINE (or F/NF) IS A BOOK IN FINE CONDITION WITH A NEAR FINE DUST JACKET.
A BOOK WITHOUT A DUST JACKET WILL SHOW ONLY ONE CONDITION DESCRIPTION, BUT WILL INCLUDE
WHATEVER ADDITIONAL INFORMATION IS KNOWN, SUCH AS "MISSING JACKET" OR "AS ISSUED".
NEW (N), VERY FINE (VF) OR MINT (M): COMPLETELY WITHOUT FAULTS OR DEFECTS. THE BOOK IS UNREAD AND IN THE SAME CONDITION IN WHICH IT WAS PUBLISHED.
FINE (F): A BOOK THAT IS LIKE NEW BUT NOT QUITE PERFECT*. THE BOOK'S SPINE OR CORNERS MAY BE
BUMPED. THERE MAY BE RUBBING**, SCUFFS, OR OTHER VERY MINOR WEAR TO THE DUSTJACKET, BUT THERE ARE NO REAL DEFECTS OR FAULTS.
NEAR FINE (NF): A BOOK OR DUSTJACKET APPROACHING FINE BUT WITH A COUPLE OF VERY MINOR DEFECTS OR FAULTS.
IN THE FOLLOWING CATEGORIES, ANY AND ALL PROBLEMS OR FAULTS MUST BE DESCRIBED.
VERY GOOD (VG): SHOWS SOME SMALL SIGNS OF WEAR, DEFECTS, OR FAULTS.
GOOD (G): TYPICAL USED CONDITION THAT SHOWS WEAR FROM READING AND HANDLING.
FAIR (F): A BOOK WITH READING MATERIAL INTACT, INCLUDING SUCH ITEMS AS MAPS, PHOTOS, ETC. BUT MAY LACK UNNECCESARY COMPONENTS SUCH AS ENDPAPERS, TISSUE PAPER, ETC.
THE BOOK AND DUST JACKET MAY SHOW SIGNS OF USE OR DAMAGE.
POOR (P): A BOOK THAT IS SO WORN THAT IT IS USEFUL ONLY FOR READING. THE DUST JACKET, MAPS, PHOTOS, ETC. MAY
BE MISSING (ALL MISSING ITEMS MUST BE LISTED). BOOKS IN THIS CONDITION WILL ONLY BE INCLUDED ON THIS SITE UNDER UNUSUAL CIRCUMSTANCES, AND THE REASON NOTED.
EX-LIBRARY OR BOOK CLUB IS ALWAYS NOTED, IN ADDITION TO THE CONDITION OF THE BOOK AND DUST JACKET.
* A BOOK IN THIS CATEGORY MAY EVEN BE NEW, BUT MAY BE LESS THAN PERFECT DUE TO SHIPPING, STORING OR CUSTOMER HANDLING.
**THE EASIEST WAY TO UNDERSTAND THE TERM RUBBING IS TO HOLD AN OLDER BOOK WITH A DUST JACKET UNDER A LAMP. WHEN YOU TILT IT SO THAT THE LIGHT REFLECTS, YOU WILL SEE THAT SOME OF THE FINISH HAS DULLED. THIS IS THE MOST COMMON FORM OF RUBBING. |
