Terms describing book condition

The following is offered as a guide to convert book formats to approximate book sizes. A guide to book conditions 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. Dont be put off by the title while very few if any of us read the fine print of competitions, policies and our itunes accounts. It is important to both collectors and dealers that you accurately describe your books condition using industry standards. Book terms and book conditions used by book collectors. Most collectors want to have books in a 7 or better condition grade and this affects the prices people will spend on them. If you want to be an antiquarian, you need to speak the language. Terms used and rare booksellers use to communicate a particular books. As new means that the book is in the state that it should have been in. Here are some common terms used to describe the condition of old books. How to describe the condition of a used book toughnickel. If ioba booksellers do not use these guidelines they will prominently display their own definitions.

What are the connotations of the two sets of terms. What are the connotation of these two sets of terms. This suggest that henriettas friends and family were uneducated of elsies condition and uneducated in general. No part of any chapter of any book may be transmitted in any form by any means or reproduced for any other purpose, without the prior written permission except as permitted in this licence agreement or under applicable law. 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.

Ab bookmans weekly aka antiquarian bookman, one of the most wellrespected journals in the book selling trade, listed the following categories for judging the condition of used books. 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. Chipped used to describe where small pieces are missing from the edges of the. Like everything you buy at powells, if youre not satisfied with the condition of your used book, return it for a full refund. Apheresis a procedure where whole blood is removed from the body and desired components, such as plasma or platelets is retained and the remainder of. Excellent condition means that the vehicle looks new. Online sales used book condition descriptions used books. For example, anvg tells you that the book itself is in as new condition and the dust jacket is very good. I am trying to be as accurate as possible, to prevent buyers from saying the book they ordered was not represented properly. The ioba book condition definitions standards codify these condition definitions so that ioba booksellers have a guideline for describing their books. The vermont antiquarian booksellers association vermont.

A book in poor condition will be worth far less than the same book in fine condition. 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. Price is the amount that the seller wants for the book, without delivery costs. For information about selecting a condition for your product, see selecting conditions. Antiquarian and rare book glossary of terms you should. Confused by the terms used to describe used, collectable or antiquarian books for sale. It is important to make a careful assessment of your product before specifying its condition. Ab bookmans weekly, which ceased publication in 1999, was for decades the bible of the antiquarian. Ab bookmans weekly aka antiquarian bookman, one of the most wellrespected journals in the bookselling trade, listed the following categories for judging the condition of used books. How to describe condition of a book help for new sellers. Compare the medical term describing elsies condition with the terms used by henriettas friends and family.

How to read rare book condition descriptions as provided by professional booksellers. When a book has just been flawlessly printed and flawlessly bound and has not yet been handled, it is in mint or pristine condition. They were adopted by the bookselling community and are still in use today. Terms and conditions is a fantastically funny book that takes into account serious issues then annihilates them in an original way. Then read our guide to common book terms, book size codes.

Kelley blue book divides the condition of used vehicles into four grades. Bowed covers may turn inward toward the leaves or outward away from the leaves. Aug 07, 2008 the six key terms for talking about a book are the six planes of its rectangular prism. Lacking any special circumstances, any book missing pages is worthless source. Here are accepted abbreviations used to describe book and dust jackets alike by professional booksellers. Describing an old book state library of pennsylvania. These ioba book condition definitions are used to describe both the book and. A nontraditional book condition description that generally refers to a book in good or very good condition, although no standard exists for this term, and the word can be used to describe a wide variety of actual book conditions.

A previously owned book in good, reading condition. This description is, in our humble opinion, now necessary though. Books that give facts about real events, things, or people are called nonfiction. It may be soiled, scuffed, stained or spotted, have loose joints, hinges, pages, but must have a complete, legible text. A terms and conditions agreement is the agreement that includes the terms, the rules and the guidelines of acceptable behavior and other useful sections to which users must agree in order to use. Abbreviations appear alphabetized at the beginning of each respective letter.

The condition generally results from a rapid change in the level of moisture in the air and is caused by different rates of expansion or contraction of the pastedown and the outer material covering the board. When a book almost perfectly fits a high condition grade, sellers may use a bit of art to fit it into that grade by giving specific information on the issue that contradicts the condition. There can be no defects, no missing pages, no library stamps, etc. Feb, 2014 terms and conditions is a fantastically funny book that takes into account serious issues then annihilates them in an original way. When describing a book, many booksellers use abbreviations or shorter terms. Dont be put off by the title while very few if any of us read the fine print of competitions, policies and our itunes accounts, glancys fine print will have you devouring the footnotes. Binding copy describes a book in which the pages or leaves are perfect, but the binding is very bad, loose, off, or nonexistent. Terms for describing condition from ab bookmans weekly. Fair a book in very worn condition, but all of its important parts and dust jacket if one was issued must be present.

The general condition guidelines do not apply to collectible books. Because book descriptions are subjective and because condition is a major factor in determining the value of a book the worse the condition, the less the demand as a general rule a used book dealer will not offer a purchase price, and a book appraiser will refuse to appraise a book, sight unseen. Compare the medical terms describing elsies condition with terms used by henriettas friends and family. For generations used book dealers and collectors have described the physical condition of a used book using certain terms, as follows. Book formats the traditional terms in use for describing book formats, which are derived from early printing methodology and the size of early handmade sheets of paper. No part of any chapter of any book may be transmitted in any form by any means or reproduced for any other purpose, without the prior. When describing a used book, mint is an ideal condition and very rarely a reality.

The complete list of terms a bookseller might use is considerable. How to grade and describe book condition bookseller world. Any specific defect of a book should be mentioned in the book. Antiquarian and rare book glossary of terms you should know. Rheumatoid arthritis is an inflammatory chronic joint condition that can occur much earlier than osteoarthritis as early as childhood in some cases. Booksellers use standard terms to describe the condition of the used books that they sell. Book condition guidelines bert babcock bookseller, llc. Describing the condition of books can be complicated in the field of childrens and illustrated books. Henriettas friends and family refer to her as simple.

The six key terms for talking about a book are the six planes of its rectangular prism. Book terminology terms, sizes, condition and defects glossary. Fine f a book that has no defects in book or jacket, but not as crisp as it was when new. Ever how to interpret the condition, edition, and other terms included in the description of a book for sale. Anisocytosis condition which is characterized by a considerable variation in the size of cells, especially red blood cells.

Some basic descriptive terms are used by booksellers to communicate book condition. Do buyers understand these terms, or are they just a clueless as i am. 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. Ioba condition definitions independent online booksellers. Book grading terms the vermont antiquarian booksellers. 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. 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. How to describe a book, excerpt from sell books on the internet. All condition reports are subjective to some extent. Online sales used book condition descriptions used. To be considered collectible, a book should be unique in a way that could reasonably be assumed to increase the books value to a collector such as first editions and first printings.

Assigning the correct condition to each product you list on amazon is the first step toward providing a great customer experience. It pays to become familiar with the basic descriptive terms used by used and rare booksellers to communicate a particular books condition. A condition of the covers or boards of a hardcover book. This abbreviated glossary covers only the most commonly encountered terms. Please see chapter 4 for complete details of how to describe a books condition. Henriettas friends and family refer to her as simple and touched. Describes a book in which the top, fore edge and bottom of the outside of the. Grading guidelines used to properly describe condition of books.

Ab bookmans weekly, which ceased publication in 1999, was for decades the bible of the antiquarian book trade. Some of these can be confusing, especially since when talking about the. Describing a book s condition buyers and sellers of rare and used books recognize the necessity of a common language for describing the condition of books offered in the marketplace. In 1949 ab bookmans weekly proposed condition descriptions that would serve as standards in catalogue and mailorder transactions to eliminate confusion and. Our terms and conditions template will get you started with creating your own custom terms and conditions agreement this template is free to download and use for your website or mobile app. Booksellers always list the condition of the dust jacket after the condition of the book. There has been a huge rise in the collectability of ultramoderns or hypermoderns and condition is even more critical in this area than others. The medical terms included mental retardation, neurosyphilis and epilepsy. It pays to become familiar with the basic descriptive terms used by used and rare booksellers to communicate a particular book s condition.

In medical terms elsies condition is referred to as epilepsy, mental retardation, and psychoneurosis. These terms are relatively new and not accepted by some dealers and collectors, mainly in the antiquarian area. 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. Included in every issue ab bookmans after 1949 was a set of criteria for grading the condition of used books. Henriettas family and friends would describe elsie as simple, or touched with the mind of an. Poor describes a book that is sufficiently worn that its. Book club editions must always be noted as such, no matter what the condition of the book. A description of the books condition, as well as the dust jackets condition, must be included in the books description. The condition of a rare book and its dust jacket if applicable are the most important factors affecting its value and pricing. Ioba book terminology independent online booksellers.

How to describe a book, excerpt from sell books on the. To be considered collectible, a book should be unique in a way that could reasonably be assumed to increase the book s value to a collector such as first editions and first printings. All used books at have been designated with a descriptive condition code, listed below. Very fine is a flawless copy, perfect in every way and probably never read. As new is to be used only when the book is in the same immaculate condition in which it was published. Terms and conditions is a good, light holiday read with a predictable ending a book that fills in time whilst not demanding too much. Describing a books condition buyers and sellers of rare and used books recognize the necessity of a common language for describing the condition of books offered in the marketplace. General i ebook titles purchased cannot be returned, printed, refunded, or exchanged. The book is either very good condition for a book that is 10 years old or 150 years old.