Book Descriptions
Book Descriptions
Standard Conditions for Books and Dust Jackets.
Golden Books group describe the book first followed by the dust jacket. E.G. Very Good (book)/ Good (dust jacket) condition. Below are the standard conditions for books and their dust covers. These are provided so that anyone buying or selling books has a common standard classification for describing the amount of wear and tear a book has been subject to. The five basic conditions accepted by collectors all over the world are;
MINT Condition - The book is in perfect condition. It is complete with its dust cover and it is impossible to tell from a new copy. Dust Jacket as new and unclipped.
FINE Condition - The book is in excellent condition. Close examination will show evidence of previous ownership and storage. Dust Jacket as new, but with very slight rubbing on the corners.
VERY GOOD Condition - Slightly less than fine condition. Apart from slight foxing or fading, the book has no faults. Dust Jacket: Clean with excellent coloring, but with slight wear to most edges and corners.
GOOD+ Condition - It is obvious that the book is second-hand. However, apart from minor faults it is complete in all respects, unless described otherwise. Dust Jacket: Fairly clean with almost perfect coloring, but suffering from marks, creasing and other signs of wear. Most of the edges are rubbed or have small closed tears in them.
GOOD Condition - It is obvious that the book has had several owners. However, apart from some faults it is complete in all respects, unless described otherwise. Dust Jacket: Average Condition, with creasing and other signs of wear. Most of the edges are rubbed or with closed tears in them.
POOR Condition - The book is really in bad condition. It may be warped, preliminary pages may be missing, and the spine is irreparably damaged. The text is complete but the book is really only suitable to read. Dust Jacket: Tatty and grubby, may well be marked, creased or torn.
Book Formats and Sizes
Many booksellers use terms like "folio" and "octavo" to describe a book's format. And, just as many prospective book buyers are thoroughly confused by these terms. Format refers to a book's size and shape. Traditionally, this has meant, "the size of a volume in terms of the number of times the original printed sheet has been folded to form its constiuent leaves." (ABC for Book Collectors, John Carter). Thus, a folio is folded once, a quarto twice, etc. The most common formats are:
folio
quarto (4vo)
octavo (8vo)
quodecimo(12mo)
sixteenmo (16mo)
twentyfourmo (24mo) Still confused? Then think of it this way: the name indicates what fraction of the larger sheet the individual leaf occupies. So, a leaf in a quarto (4vo)occupies 1/4 of the sheet If the traditional use of book formats has left your head spinning, don't worry! Almost all modern usage of folio or its brethren refers to the approximate height of the book. Modern Book Formats and Their Approximate Heights (in inches) Double elephant folio, 50"
Atlas folio 25"
Elephant folio 23"
F = folio 15" (coffee table book)
Q = quarto (4vo) 12" (telephone book)
O = octavo (8vo) 9" (standard hardcover)
D = duodecimo (12mo) 7" (standard paperback)
S = sixteenmo (16mo) 6"
T = twentyfourmo (24mo) 5"
thirtytwomo (32mo) 4.5 "
fortyeightmo (48mo) 4"
sixtyfourmo (64mo) 3.5"
Copyright Golden Books Group© 2012
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