Book Condtions
At The Darling Bookshop we use the widely accepted standard book grading terms when assessing the condition of our books.
Nothing is worse than receiving a book you purchased which is not in the condition you purchased it for.
In our use of the standard method of grading we always try to add specifics as to why it received that grade. In this way our customers can determine if the book is right for them. If you, as a customer are ever unhappy and/or in disagreement that your purchase was presented inaccurately we will issue a full refund upon return of the book. We ALWAYS want you to be happy with your purchase, and will go to great lengths to make sure that you are.
If you are not familiar with the standard conditions of book grading they are:
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- As New or Mint : is self-explanatory. It means that the book is in the state that it should have been in when it left the publisher.
- Fine (F or FN) : is As New but allowing for the normal effects of time on an unused book that has been protected. A fine book shows no damage.
- Very Good (VG) : describes a book that is worn but untorn. For many collectors this is the minimum acceptable condition for all but the rarest items. Any defects must be noted.
- Good (G) : describes the condition of an average used worn book that is complete. Any defects must be noted.
- Fair : shows wear and tear but all the text pages and illustrations or maps are present. It may lack endpapers, half-title, and even the title page. All defects must be noted.
- Poor : describes a book that has the complete text but is so damaged that it is only of interest to a buyer who seeks a reading copy. If the damage renders the text illegible then the book is not even poor.
-Ex-library : copies must always be designated as such no matter what the condition of the book.
-Book Club Editions (BCE) : copies must always be designated as such no matter what the condition of the book.
-Binding Copy describes a book in which the pages or leaves are perfect, but the binding is very bad, loose, off or non-existent.
In all cases, the lack of a dust jacket should be noted if the book was issued with one. There is no standard term for books in a condition below poor. Their normal fate is to be discarded or to be broken into individual pages if these have any value. We will sometimes place pages from those books in our miscellaneous shopping pages or in our reduced/clearance pages for use in framed home decor, scrapbooking, etc. Beyond that we will recycle what cannot be saved.