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Condition DefinitionsGeneral NotesThe grading of books will always be subjective. However many buyers rely on this to give an overall impression of a book's condition. This is our attempt to develop some specific guidelines. We accept they are open to dispute and not perfect, but believe they are better than vague headlines.
Regardless of grading given, faults must be noted in the description. The higher the grading given the more care and attention must be devoted to this. Only minimal account should be taken on the book's age or genre, so just because a book is old does not mean a faded and discoloured dust jacket can be classed as fine. It is OK to use + and - to iddicate whether a book is at the upper or lower end of its grade.
Grades are given book followed by the dust jacket, if the book originally had one (for example Fine/Good is a fine book in a Good dust jacket). If a jacket that was originally present is missing, this should be indicated.First editionFirst edition means first edition, first printing, unless a later printing is clearly stated (e.g. first edition, third printing). Where information beyond the stated printing or edition has been used to identify a first edition this should be noted. We use the terms priting and impression interchanagbly.Mint, Fine plusThese grades should not be usedFine BookThe book must be in excellent overall condition. Close examination will reveal evidence of careful ownership and storage. There may be a small inscription from a previous owner. A fine book must not have any wear or marks on the cloth, browning of the paper, a lean to the spine or any weakness in the hinges.Fine Dust jacketA fine dust jacket may have very slight rubbing at the corners, withot loss, or very minor discolouration in one area (most usually the spine). It should not have any chips, tears longer than 2mm or creases. A fine dust jacket can be price clipped if noted. The dust jacket (of any grade) must have been checked to ensure it is the correct edition for the book and any discrepancy notedVery Good BookA very good book is in slightly worse overall that fine condition, but still with no faults other than slight fading of the cloth, wear to the surface of the cloth on the edges and corners or light foxing. A slight lean is acceptable.Very Good Dust jacketA Very Good dust jacket will still have good overall colouring, but may have slight rubbing to some edges and corners, a few closed tears up to 20 mm long or a few chips up to 5mm deep. There may be light browning and small marks or stains.Good BookIt is obvious that the a Good book is secondhand, however, apart from minor faults, it should be in good condition and complete in all respects (unless indicated otherwise). The pages may have browning or foxing and the cloth localised wear. The spine may have a lean and the hinges minor weakness.Good Dust jacketA Good dust jacket may have some fading, creasing or marks. It will still be more or less complete. The edges may rubbed, have a few chips up to 30 mm by 30 mm, longer tears and creasing. The colour may have faded and areas may be notably browned. There may be marks or stainsFair BookA fair book is in generally bad condition. The hinges may be worn, but not broken. The cloth may be worn, stained or faded and the pages may have significant foxingFair Dust jacketA fair book is also in generally bad condition. It must be substantially complete, but may have large, chips, tears, creases, stains, loss of colour or browningPoor BookA Poor book is any book that is substantially complete, but in worst than fair condition.Poor JacketA Poor Dust jacket is any jacket that is in worst than fair condition.Facsimile dust jacketFacsimile dust jackets are permitted if this is clearly indicated in descriptions and on the jacket itself, and they are of high quality. They must be of the full correct size. |
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