What condition is it in?

There are specific rules for how to define the condition of a book. Members of the Antiquarian Book dealers association are supposed to use a fixed set of rules. I suggest that you look these up for yourself. Here are a couple of simple definitions:

Fine:

Never read, or shows no signs of being read. In 'as new' condition

Good:

May be visible tears or fading in the dust jacket, or bend marks (paperbacks) in the spine.

Fair:

May have parts of the cover missing. This book shows signs of wear.

Any deviations from Fine must be listed in the description. These include minor tears ('closed' means that the edges meet and won't show in a dust jacket protector) and small labels or inscriptions. Water stains, warped boards, canting (the book has a permanent lean to one side), splits in the spine are all items that make a book no better than Good. Unfortunately, when purchasing a book by mail, you cannot assume that the dealer followed these rules. You should ask for condition - and the definition of that condition before you order a book that you have not seen.

The one exception to the rule of missing parts of the Dust Jacket is if the price has been clipped. A book with the 'price clipped' is usually still considered to be in Fine condition, as long as this defect is listed in the description. The cutting off of the corner where the price was usually done to the front flap of the dust jacket, by the person giving a book as a gift. This is also done by book dealers who are less than honest.

A first edition book that was EVER owned by a library is never considered to be in anything better than Fair condition. Even if the book is otherwise in Fine condition, never loaned out by the library. The stampings, pockets, labels and other markings change the condition.Something to look for in any book is that it still has its end papers. (There is one sheet of paper that is glued to both the board cover of the book, and to the first page of the bound signatures.) The library pocket is usually on the end paper, and removing the page, may remove most of the obvious library markings.

There is a special case where an otherwise Fine first edition of a book, that is missing its dust jacket is "married" to a dust jacket from another book. Often these dust jackets come from X-library books where they have no obvious library markings. Often these dust jackets come from jackets that were never put on a book, and were found in storage. I don't consider this a flaw, since ALL books were originally married to a jacket. What YOU need to look out for here is that you are really getting a first edition jacket on your book. Here, knowing the original purchase price of the book is required.

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What is the price? Is this book worth that price?

Luckily, I never have to make the choice between buying a book and paying the rent. I have never received a book in the mail that didn't meet the condition that it was described in.

Early in my purchasing I thought that any price over $200 was too much to pay. Most of you know that I was lucky in that for a copy of RALESTONE LUCK, I had taken the dealer's business card with the purchase price written down, and was later able to order the book.

If you decide that a price is too high for you, ALWAYS write down the dealer, title, price and phone number. There are people, who read these web pages, who will appreciate the information even if you won't be the owner of the book.

There is a big question on whether to purchase a book in fair condition or wait for a fine condition book. I don't think that I can say more than what I would do, and have done. With old Andre Norton hard covers, buy what you see. They are hard enough to find that you may never see a better copy. The market is also such that you will probably be able to sell your less than perfect copy for what you paid for it, when the time comes.

Is the price of the book too high for its condition? Here you are on your own. I could make up some elaborate equation for price, age and condition, but I won't. The price of a book is only too high if you didn't buy it. Just remember that the older the book, the less likely that the condition will be Fine, and the more likely that the price may be high.

I may never find that Fine edition of THE PRINCE COMMANDS. I consider my X-library copy of that book, the closest that I may ever get. I've noticed that my copy of NIGHT OF MASKS with warped boards, looks less warped every year (especially because it is stored properly; see Storing of books) and I'm no longer looking for a Fine copy. My copy of SWORD IN SHEATH is separated at the title page (end paper). My copy of RALESTONE LUCK has a dust jacket in 5 pieces carefully placed in a dust jacket protector. In all of these cases I have never seen another copy. I have also stopped felling guilty about what I paid for the Very Fine Presentation Copy of CRYSTAL GRYPHON.

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