Used book condition terms

Grading guidelines used to properly describe condition of books. We personally assess every books quality and offer rare, outofprint treasures. Book condition guide, music condition guide half price books. Apr 09, 2015 taken together with our other glossaries, we hope this list of book condition terms will help you kickstart your book collecting efforts. The condition terminology is sometimes brought to the book trade by sellers. There may be exceptions to some of our definitions our main concern is to provide you with general concepts relative to commonly used book jargon. Condition guidelines assigning the correct condition to each product you list on amazon is the first step toward providing a great customer experience. Ioba condition definitions independent online booksellers. Books with markings of any kind on the cover or pages, books marked as bargain or remainder, or with any other labels attached may not be listed as new condition. Although terms like mint and very fine might be used for coins, they are not traditionally used in the antiquarian book field. Describes a book that shows some small signs of wear but no tears on either binding or paper.

Ioba book condition definitions are here for two reasons. Terms for describing book condition from ab bookmans as new is to be used only when the book is in the same immaculate condition in which it was published. Here are the standard gun condition rating terms, as defined by the national rifle association. This is a book with significant damage that would only be worth selling if it includes rare signatures, inscriptions or was owned by a famous person. The six key terms for talking about a book are the six planes of its rectangular prism. Association copy a book that belonged to or was annotated by the author, someone close to the author, a famous or noteworthy person, or someone especially associated with the content of the work. He should also be guaranteeing the book to be as described. List of used book conditions as new is selfexplanatory. When you order a used book from, youll know exactly what kind of shape its in. Some of the terminology used in book collecting can be arcane, indeed. Remember, any professional bookseller will be happy to help you with genuine enquiries about anything you may be unsure about. As issued a term used to describe an aspect of the book that might be perceived as a flaw but was the original state of the book when published.

Good g a book, or dust jacket in average used and worn condition complete with all its parts. It may be soiled, scuffed, stained or spotted, have loose joints, hinges, pages, but must have a complete, legible text. Learn about our minimum condition requirements and the types of books that cash4books buys. Good g your average used product with everything present. Glassine transparent paper sometimes used as a dust jacket to protect a book. Lacking any special circumstances, any book missing pages is worthless source. Cd remainders are usually marked by cutting the spine of the case or punching a hole through the upc barcode. For generations used book dealers and collectors have described the physical condition of a used book.

Grading books how to describe condition at bookseller world. Here are some common terms used to describe the condition of old books. The set of terms below were proposed in 1949 by ab bookmans weekly. Technically, this term is used to describe any of the printings of a book, done from the original setting of type, at any time until the type is so altered as to constitute a second edition see edition. Book terminology terms, sizes, condition and defects glossary. Online sales used book condition descriptions used books. As the book is used, the binding becomes looser until a well used book may lay flat and remain open to any page in the book. When describing a used book, mint is an ideal condition and very. Possible slightly loose bindings, minor highlighting and marginalia, cocked spine or torn dust jackets are acceptable.

A book in poor condition will be worth far less than the same book in fine condition. Some basic descriptive terms are used by booksellers to communicate book condition. For generations used book dealers and collectors have described the physical condition of a used book using certain terms, as follows. Prior to shelving, each book is graded appropriately. The most widely used set of standards for grading firearms condition is that defined by the nra many years ago. When describing a book, many booksellers use abbreviations or shorter terms. In this manner, ioba members will further the mutual trust andrespect between booksellers and customers. The following categoryspecific condition guidelines should be used as indicated in addition to or in place of the general condition guidelines.

Not only will this allow the novice to correctly describe a book, this page will provide an easy reference to unknown book words allowing an intelligent decision before purchasing or describing a book to sell. Describes the average used worn book that has all pages or leaves present. I wont say that no one uses them but the responsible ones do not. Confused by the terms used to describe used, collectable or antiquarian books for sale. The vermont antiquarian booksellers association vermont. How to describe the condition of a used book toughnickel. Books all pages and cover are intact including the dust cover, if applicable. The book does not look new and has been read but is in excellent condition. It means that the book is in the state that it should have been in. Being clear and accurate about your items condition lets the buyer know whether theyre getting something new, used, or something in between. The blue book assessment quiz takes into account several specific aspects of the exterior, interior, and mechanical.

Fine f or fn is as new but allowing for the normal effects of time on an unused book. Very fine is a flawless copy, perfect in every way and probably never read. This abbreviated glossary covers only the most commonly encountered terms. Kelley blue book divides the condition of used vehicles into four grades. If you can imagine a scale of 1 to 10 where a 10 is a perfect, likenew book that has never been handled by a child, that copy would be fine. A book described as crisp will not have wellread pages. Ioba book terminology independent online booksellers. Id like to receive useful tips, tools and resources via email from kelley blue book and affiliates.

Acceptable rental condition means that the items you rent will always be professionally inspected and prepared by a qualified vendor. The condition of a rare book and its dust jacket if applicable are the most important factors affecting its value and pricing. This is the equivalent of mint condition in numismatics. Blurb provides software and personal printondemand, selfpublishing services that allow its customers to create, design, layout, print and publish professional quality printed books and publications, including digital versions thereof, each referred to as a book as applicable in these terms and conditions and other user policies located in. Amazon devices used used amazon devices are not accompanied by a manufacturers warranty but do receive a 30 day moneyback guarantee from amazon. Book condition guidelines bert babcock bookseller, llc. Hopefully, our glossary will help you unravel some of the jargon used by book collectors and book sellers.

When a book has just been flawlessly printed and flawlessly bound and has not yet been handled, it is in mint or pristine condition. When considering the purchase of a book for your collection, the condition and, if applicable, the dust jacket are the most important factors affecting the value. Item may have minor cosmetic defects such as marks, wears, cuts, bends, or crushes on the cover, spine, pages, or dust cover. They were adopted by the bookselling community and are still in use today. Very good vg shows some signs of wear and is no longer fresh. As new means that the book is in the state that it should have been in when it left the publisher. Ever how to interpret the condition, edition, and other terms included in the description of a book for sale. It is important to make a careful assessment of your product before specifying its condition.

Thriftbooks sells millions of used books at the lowest everyday prices. Book terms and book conditions used by book collectors. Book terminology or book terms are the vocabulary used in book collecting to describe the many different parts of the book. Condition quiz kelley blue book new and used car price. Item may have minor cosmetic defects marks, wears, cuts, bends, crushes on the cover, spine, pages or dust cover. These are used books though, and everything is subjective. Terms used and rare booksellers use to communicate a particular books condition. Thats why all our used book listings contain a condition code. Included in every issue ab bookmans after 1949 was a set of criteria for grading the condition of used books. A book remainder mark is usually made with a stamp or permanent marker on the bottom edge of the book, though it may be on the back cover or another edge. Then read our guide to common book terms, book size codes. When you rent through, you may receive a new or used item but all rentals will be in acceptable rental condition. Used and rare books have a long, venerable history of being bought and sold at.

Buying used books online shouldnt require any more guesswork than buying new copies. Looking for help understanding commonly used book collecting terminology, or abbreviations and references used in book sellers descriptions. Glossary of terms used book condition terms used reading copy a book in poor condition. Although these cutouts dont damage the cd or liner notes, they are visible. A term often used to indicate a books newlike condition. Books with markings of any kind on the cover or pages, books marked as bargain or remainder, or with any other labels attached, may not be listed as new condition. Here are accepted abbreviations used to describe book and dust jackets alike by professional booksellers. It is strictly prohibited to describe a book as new if it is used or second hand. Very few used cars fall into the excellent category. We tend to overdescribe flaws and undervalue the condition grade so that the book looks better than you expected it would.

Booksellers always list the condition of the dust jacket after the condition of the book. In the world of literature and modern firsts, the term is used differently, and means the very first printing of those copies, done at the same time. The terms used in evaluating firearms condition have specific meaning. Some of these can be confusing, especially since when talking about the condition or size of a book these terms may not always be used to mean the very same thing. It pays to become familiar with the basic descriptive terms used by used and rare booksellers to communicate a particular books. Mar 12, 2020 whether were buying in person or online, we only accept books that we consider to be in good condition. You can determine the condition of a vehicle by taking a condition quiz found on the equipment selection page, or by comparing the car to these category definitions. When describing a used book, mint is an ideal condition and very rarely a reality. For example, anvg tells you that the book itself is in as new condition and the dust jacket is very good. It pays to become familiar with the basic descriptive terms used by used and rare booksellers to communicate a particular books condition.

Booksellers use standard terms to describe the condition of the used books that they sell. A term indicating a given book is in the same condition as when originally published. Very good vg describes a book that is worn but untorn. If youre selling your books online and they do not meet our condition standards, we may change our bid or decide not to use the books at all. If you are a buyer and unsure of how to define the terms you see used by dealers we hope this helps.