Determining the Condition of a Collectible Book, Pt. 1
December 12th, 2006 by Alan Chudnow
Here is a short two part series on Condition for the beginning collector. This will all will be second nature to any one dealing with second-hand, collectible or antiquarian books for any period of time. I offer this to those budding collectors just getting started as Grading and Condition are critical in the antiquarian book arena.
Grading Collectible Books
All booksellers agree that the single most important factor in determining the value of a book is condition. Like any other item we collect; be it stamps, comic books or fine ceramics, condition is the key to an object’s value. In the world of Science Fiction and Fantasy book collecting, all things being equal, in order to possess the highest value a book should be as close as possible to the original condition it was in when first published.
Unfortunately determining the condition of a particular volume is far from an exact science. Although there have been attempts to reach some universal standard of definitions by which all collectors and book dealers would adhere, the subjective nature of assigning a state of condition to a particular volume has made enforcement of any such standard impossible to implement for all practical purposes. However the struggle goes on and we may yet see a standardized grading system employed by book sellers and book buyers alike.
While there is no standardized system for determining the condition of an older book there are several standard categories of condition which is used by book collectors and dealers alike. Terms like “Good”, “Very Good” or “Fine” are generally understood by experienced buyers and sellers even though individual interpretations of each label may differ.
Some collectors and dealers choose to use intermediate grading categories such as “Good+”, “Fine- or “Very Good to Fine” when they judge that the book is on the cusp of a category. Most reputable booksellers list specific details of condition (i.e. dust jacket shows chipping across the top and bottom, slight wear to fore edges) along with an overall condition term such as “Good”, “Very Good” or “Fine” as the general impression of the bookseller. It is important to keep in mind that this is the opinion of the seller and your assessment may differ. You will find that many book sellers allow the return of a collectable book should you be unhappy with the condition. It always best to be aware of each seller’s policy prior to making a purchase.
There are a number of compilations of definitions for the terms commonly used to grade the condition of a book. The three most commonly referred to are the Antiquarian Bookman’s 1949 scale (thanks to hugh’s blog for posting these), the Independent Online Booksellers Association’s (IOBA) definitions, and Firsts Magazine’s grading descriptions. I’ve also attempted my own Categories of Condition for Collectible Books.
Next time, some advice for the beginning collector and a word on dust jackets.
As usual, comments and additional thoughts are most welcome.
I appreciate your information and guidelines on grading collectible books. Is there anyway you would copyright this article and allow it to be used commercially to help new collectors in the eBay market?
Most of my visitors are in the market for Antiquarian & Collectible books. Through an eBay interface we offer a wide selection. However, I think this would be a valuable guide for buyers and sellers as well. Please advise.