AS NEW  or MINT: Without faults or defects, unread, in the same condition in which it was originally sold. (Note: Many NEW books in bookstores do not reach this standard and have  bumps, edge rubs and curling jackets). We tend to be cautious and hardly any books on this site have this description

FINE: May show very slight signs of having been carefully read and stored, but no with real defects or faults.
NEAR FINE: Book or dustjacket approaching FINE but with a couple of very minor defects or faults, which we always note.

VERY GOOD: A used book or its jacket showing some  signs of wear but with no serious damage. Any defects/faults are always noted.

GOOD: The average used book that has all pages or leaves present with none loose. Jacket will have minor creases, edge rubs and minor edge Wear. All defects are noted. 

FAIR: A worn book that has complete text pages (including those with maps or plates) but may lack endpapers, preliminary pages, etc.  Binding or dustjacket, may also be worn and shabby. All defects/faults are noted.

POOR or READING or REFERENCE COPY: A book that is so well used that it looks and  feels in bad shape - soiled, scuffed and stained. Most damage and wear is in the bindings, hinges and appearance. All text pages will be present, legible and reasonably clean. Most books in this category are only offered in this condition if they are sufficiently scarce for buyers to want them as a low cost reference. Occasionally books are so rare that we offer them with missing plates or even missing text pages but in these circumstances the descriptions will note the problems

EX-LIBRARY:  Will have library stamps and sometimes labels or remains of labels. These are offered because the work may be rare, or as a low cost book. We always note these as ex-library, and with a description of the general condition.

BOOK CLUB: Whenever books are Book Club Editions it will be noted and with a description of the general condition. (Some of the early book club editions are collected in their own right)

DISBOUND: A book in which the text block, including illustrations, is complete but the boards (covers) are missing or detached. Rare books in disbound state may be suitable for re-casing or rebinding