FANTASTIC COLLECTIBLES BOOKS
HARDCOVER BOOKS GRADING STANDARDS

Condition is extremely important to many who collect SF material. Therefore, I grade carefully, being conservative when in doubt. Below are the standards I use to grade all Hardcover Books. Age is not a factor in grading. Good for it's age is not a meaningful phrase as age is not a factor in grading since all books are held to the same standards. There are just not as many older books in the higher grades.

• FINE- Excellent condition, with no tears or creases. Lustre remaining on laminated covers, pages closer to white than yellow. No tape anywhere very slight wear-item has been read but carefully.
  
• VERY GOOD- Shows some signs of wear. May have very minor creases. Paper not as white as fine. Somewhat above average copy showing some wear. May not be taped.
• GOOD- An average copy, in that it shows considerable wear, though it is not yet falling apart. May be taped if acknowledged. Pages are more yellow than white. Bindings may be frayed.
• FAIR- (or READING COPY) Loose binding, loose pges, very yellowed pages, covers badly in need of repair. Undesirable for collectors
• POOR- Other than it can be read, nothing much can be said other than it has been sorely abused.
• EX-LIB- (Ex-library copy) Reading copy only. May be in any condition but generally of no collector interest unless rare.

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