Book Terms and Condition Description Definitions
used by Charles McKee Books
[This is a work in progress. Last updated August 5th, 2005.]
The following grading information contains material from the original AB Bookman Weekly's
guidelines which were standard in the antiquarian book trade for many years. It also includes
information from the AABA and the newer IOBA's standards. Another excellent reference
is Carter's ABC's for Book Collectors. Added to that aremy own more stringent aspects.
Condition in my descriptions is shown as " __ / __ ".
For example: " F / F " indicates first the book condition, then the dust jacket's.
Thus, it would mean the book is in FINE condition and the dust jacket is in FINE condition.
If no dust jacket is present, then there will be only one condition noted.
PLEASE NOTE:
* In all cases I note important faults. With the huge number of mass market paperbacks in my listings ... I do not always expand on the basic rating noting minor faults because of time restraints ... but as time permits all will have more information appended.
* Sometimes ratings are applied in different ways to those tomes that are over 50 years old, extremely rare, or found only in a unique or a common condition.
* "Shelf/use wear" is a catch-all phrase for normal and general wear or faults.
[ The following condition definitions have no variations
indicating slightly worse or better than the root condition. ]
AS NEW
Without faults or defects, unread, in the same condition in which it was published.
If shelved, stored and received by me in same condition, I will give it this highest rating.
FINE
An excellent copy almost like new, unread, but may have some very minor shipping,
shelving, storage defects to the dustjacket or wraps in form of rubs or scratches with the book
possibly having very slight bumps to book's board corners. Pb's without page corner faults.
[ The following condition definitions have three variations with a " - " ( minus ) or a " + " ( plus )
indicating slightly worse or better than the root condition. ]
VERY GOOD
A litely used / litely read book showing some signs of wear on either binding,
dustjacket, or wraps. Complete in all aspects normally unless noted. All defects / faults will be noted.
Occassionally an unread or new book with excessive shipping wear will be given this rating.
GOOD
The average used / read book that has all pages and if applicable, plates present.
All defects / faults will be noted.BR>
Nice copies with a missing ffep or info page will usually be given this rating.
[ The following condition definitions have no variations
indicating slightly worse or better than the root condition. ]
FAIR
A well used / read worn book that has complete text pages, etc.,
but is showing excessive signs of said use.
Dj's will be torn, chunks missing but still in recognizable form.
All defects / faults will be noted. Generally readers in my opinion, though occassionally
in the case of older pb's, if the wrap is in nice enough condition for the "cover collector",
the book itself would be of second interest anyway.
Sometimes a nice copy with some major fault will be rated thus.
POOR
Excessive use & handling wear / many and major faults but still a readable copy.
Rarely will the pb wraps be nice. If a dj is so rated it is falling apart.
All defects / faults will be noted, unless there are so many it is fruitless to waste the time.
I usually rate copies like this as a "reader" for bathtub or extreme use.
OTHER RELATED TERMS USED TO DESCRIBE CONDITION :
ADVANCE READING COPY (ARC)
A "to be published" hardcover in paper wraps without boards and dj or maybe in final boards and dj; or a quality paperback size in plain or final wraps, or a paperback mass market size in plain or final wraps; usually with words "Advance Reading Copy" on front cover or on first page or title page. Not for resale normally, but much valued by the collector market.
See UNCORRECTED PROOF.
ARCHIVAL GLUE
BEND
A bend is smooth curved part of the page (usually a corner). If extreme enough and the page begins to or exhibits a actual fold and/or crease line then it is now considered a "crease".
See CREASE.
BOOKLET
BINDING COPY
A book in which the pages or leaves are perfect but the binding is very bad, loose, off, or non-existent.
BOOKCLUB ( BC )
Always noted as such no matter the condition of the book.
Note of Interest: A common practice around the 1970's was for Doubleday to take regular trade first editions in overstock and either ink stamp the dj with "book club edition" or sometimes a blind stamp was added to the book's rear board to provide stocks for the bookclubs ... there are many who will argue till blue in the face that these so-called bookclubs are not first editions ... but they are wrong. Book club editions can be generally defined as books reprinted / published in scaled down versions, usually, mostly printed on cheap paper stock and sold via the bookclub market specifically and without indications of editon or date of publication. Bookclubs are also books printed from the original plates on nice paper, of the same size as the original trade edition and looking everything like a real first but with identifying editon/dating removed. Some bookclubs are exact duplicates of the original first even sporting full first edition info and dating but printed on cheap paper, most often with ragged edges. Though there are exceptions, too many to go into here, the area of true trade first editions ending up with the "bookclub" stigma is an interesting one indeed. The reverse situation has been beaten to death already. Because the publishing industry generally did not keep records about this aspect and is interested in selling books, edition markings/indicators are never consistant nor reliable in all cases ... there are always exceptions ... so be aware. Please consult your local bookseller for reference books that will help enlighten and confuse the issue.
BUMP
CHIP
COCKED
Not a common term these days ... basically means a book with a loose lean, usually caused by dropping or extreme stacking situations.
See LEAN, SHAKEN
COMB
COVER
CRACK
CREASE
A fold exhibiting a distinquete
CRUMPLE
DAMPNESS
DENT
DUST JACKET (DJ)
EDGE
EMBOSSED
EX-LIBRARY [ Ex-lib ]
Is always designated as such no matter the condition of the book.
FEP
FFEP
FLAP
FOLD
FORE EDGE
FRAY
FRONTISPIECE
HALF-TITLE PAGE
HARDCOVER (HC)
HINGE
HINT
HOLE
INSCRIPTION
INFO PAGE
IMPRESSED
IMPRESSION
LEAN
With book laying on it's rear board and looking from the bottom edge across to the top edge, a shift to the right of the top board and all pages in relation to the bottom board. This condition is usually caused by reading a book roughly many times or stacking/packing without paying proper attention to condition. This is not the same as a book being "cocked".
See COCKED
MASS MARKET PAPERBACK
see PAPERBACK (PB)
PAMPLET
PAPERBACK (PB)
Mass market paperbacks are commonly refered to with the simple term "paperback". This is a normal sized paperback usually in the area of 4.25"x7" for most modern edition down to the smaller original size used in the early days which measured usually 4.25"x6.5". Please see "QUALITY / TRADE PAPERBACK" for the larger format books with paper wraps.
PARTIAL
PLATE
PRICE CLIPPED (PC)
QUALITY / TRADE PAPERBACK (QPB)
A quality or trade paperback is a softcover version of a hardcover either of the same general dimensions or somewhat reduced, but larger than a mass market paperback. Wraps may have same or similar design as the original hardcover dj if published at same time.
READING COPY
REP
RFEP
RUB
SCUFF
SEWN
SHAKEN
I do not use this term ... it conjures an image of a book being damaged by "shaking" the damned thing. Not a helpful term at all.
See COCKED, LEAN
SHELF WEAR
SIGNATURE
SLIGHT
SOFT BOUND
SOILING
SPINE
SPIRAL
STAIN
START
TEAR
TEG
Top Edges Gilt. The top of all page edges with "gilt" (gold coloured) ink.
See GILT EDGES.
TRADE PAPERBACK
See QUALITY PAPERBACK (QPB)
UNCORRECTED PROOF COPY
Unlike the ARC, it is most always in blank or plain wraps (this practice seems to have changed radically the last few years, now they come with full colour covers and the usual uncorrected proof copy note on the front warp); a copy to be read and corrected by an editor's proof readers. Normally not for resale. These copies are of interest to the collector who wishes to study the changes between an original text as received from an author by a publisher through all versions up to and including final publication.
