KEYWORDS
All our books are classified by keywords. Type one or more keywords in the Keyword field in our database search.
A list of our keywords is available: KEYWORDS.
PUBLICATION DATE
- Year of publication, or (if not stated), copyright date.
- If estimated, this is stated in the description.
- If a reprint, this is stated in the description.
TITLE
- ( .... ): If part of the title is enclosed by round brackets, it appears on the front cover but not on the title page.
- [ ..... ]: If part of the title is enclosed by square brackets, it is a clarification that assists a computer search. These exact words do not actually appear in the title.
CONDITION
- New: Mint, uncirculated.
- As new: Almost new (fine condition).
- Very good plus: Very minor wear (near fine condition).
- Very good: Minor wear, creasing or marks.
- Good: Significant wear or marks, especially to the spine.
- Reading copy: Complete but damaged, for example, loose covers.
COVER
- Paperback: Paperback. Standard sizes are 110 x 175mm and 130 x 195mm.
- Hardback [or] Hardback, jacket missing: Hardback without dustjacket (when issued with a dustjacket). Standard size is octavo.
- Hardback [or] Hardback, issued without jacket: Hardback that is published without a jacket. Often has a pictorial board cover. Standard size is octavo.
- Hardback dustjacket: Hardback with dustjacket or dustwrapper.
BOOK SIZES
- Paperback trade: Larger than standard paperback, but smaller than quarto.
- Octavo: Standard hardback size (about 24 x 16cm). Assumed for hardbacks, unless otherwise stated.
- Quarto: Size varies, but about 27.5 x 21cm.
- Large quarto: Standard size of modern paper (A4 size, about 29.5 x 21cm).
- Folio: Much larger than quarto. About double the size of octavo in height and width.
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THE BOOK
- Autograph: Signature or written dedication by the author (not the owner), mostly on the flyleaf.
- Blurb laid down: No dustjacket, but the blurb or flap from the dustjacket has been retained and pasted down onto the endpapers.
- Dual binding: The hardback cover contains two styles of binding, including a superior textured binding along the spine. Termed quarter-bound for old books.
- Edgewear: Cloth cover or dustjacket is slightly rubbed along part of the edges, sometimes exposing white material underneath (also termed: chipped).
- Ex-library: Has cancelled library stamps and perhaps pockets and date-due sheets.
- Flap clipped: Corner of dustjacket flap removed (to remove price).
- Foxed: Brownish spots or discoloration, particularly along page edges and on the flyleaf.
- Frontispiece: Photograph or drawing facing the title page.
- Heavy book: Weighs more than about 840 grams - we may quote an extra amount for postage.
- Hinge pulled: Hinge of the book is a little stretched, that is, the pages seem a little loose (though not actually partly or wholly detached).
- Marked: Cover or pages are soiled, spotted, foxed or stained.
- Owner's written name: Signature by the former owner (not the author), mostly on the flyleaf.
- Pictorial cover: Picture or engraved letters on the front of the clothlike cover.
- Protected: The book (usually valuable) is protected from damage by a removable semi-archival plastic cover or sleeve.
- Remainder stripe: Black texta stripe, usually across bottom edge, indicating a remainder copy.
- Reprint: Reprint edition (the stated year is the reprint date, not the original publication date).
- Rubber stamp: Inked stamp, usually previous bookshop or owner, mostly on the flyleaf.
- Text-photos: Photos on the same page as text.
- Tipped-in: Photographs or diagrams that are pasted into the book during publication.
- Uncut: Some page edges were not cut during manufacture, and thus the book cannot be opened at these pages. A desirable feature on antiquarian books.
- Untrimmed: Pages not trimmed square (only roughly trimmed) on edges. Common on old books, or as a decorative effect on some new books.
- Written dedication: Gift message, usually written on the flyleaf.
- Yapp edges: The book cover is bigger than the page size, and thus overhangs the page edges.
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