Grading Policy
VERY FINE: A VERY FINE book is flawless. There are no signs that the book has ever been opened or read. The dust jacket is still shiny and free of any signs of wear. There are no marks or imperfections whatsoever; it is as though the book has just come off the shelf (sometimes referred to as AS NEW).
FINE: The difference between VERY FINE and FINE is small but important. A FINE book has been gently read, the spine has not been creased to the point that it falls open to a particular page. The dust jacket may not seem brand new, but it is free of tears and chipping (small pieces missing). You may see a single flaw described followed by "else fine". This means that aside from the described flaw, the book is FINE.
VERY GOOD: The flaws of a VERY GOOD book are obvious and readily visible to any reader. The dust jacket may be sun-faded or sport some minor tears. It is quite often "price clipped", meaning that the price has been cut out with scissors. There may be bent pages or a previous owner's signature or gift inscription. There may also be a remainder mark (a line or dot made with a felt pen along the outside bottom edge of the book). Having said that, the spine is tight, the pages are clean and the book is in VERY GOOD condition.
GOOD: GOOD means, quite simply, only good for reading, not collecting. If you only want to read the book, (what a thought!) then there is nothing wrong with purchasing a GOOD book. Usually the dust jacket on a GOOD book is in pretty rough shape. The spine may be rolled or hinged. There may be writing or underlining throughout the book. However, a GOOD book is intact and complete.
POOR: POOR books are at the bottom of the barrel. Picture a book worse than good. Got it? That's a POOR book.
Of course, when it comes to grading books, people often have different opinions. At The Dusty Cover, we try and describe every book as acurately as we can. If for any reason you receive a book from us that you feel has been innacurately described, please Contact Us, and we'll do everything we can to ensure your 100% satisfaction. (please refer to our Terms of Sale for more information.)