Bookmaven, Inc., Antiquarian, Used, Out of print Books

Ads or adv. = Advertisements.
A.e.g. = All edges gilt.
As New = refers to a book only when the book is in the same pristine condition in which it was published. No defects, no missing pages, no library stamps, etc., and the dust jacket (if it was issued with one) must be perfect, without any tears. (AB Bookman.) Books that are As New are crisp, tight and fresh. A more recent term of "Mint" is currently used, although "As New" is preferred.
Association Copy = A book or publication that belonged to the author at one time. The book must show some evidence of this either in the form of a signed book plate or an inscription by the author. Sometimes used to indicate the book came from a library of a notable person, however, it was not written by him or her.
Binding Copy = describes a book in which the pages or leaves are perfect but the binding is very bad, loose, off, or nonexistent. (AB Bookman.)
Boards or Bds. = The stiff material used to manufacture hard cover books. Modern books are commonly bound with cardboard covered in cloth or paper. Books published in the 17th century and earlier often used actual wooden boards for binding.
Book-Plate = A label placed in a book to indicate ownership. Most are decorative, portraying the owners taste, period of time or insight into the owner's personality. In an Association Copy the author's book-plate can increase the value; however, most often a book-plate reduces a book's value.
Circa = Refers to an approximate publishing date.
Colophon = A statement (sometime accompanied by a mark) found at the end of a book. A colophon may give all or some of the following information: name of work, author, printer, place of printing, date, or a statement of printing limitation.
Cocked = When looking down at the head of a book, when the boards are not squared (aligned) the book is cocked. Use can be front or rear board.
Dust Jacket (DJ), Dustwrapper (DW) = The decorativepiece/illustrated paper wrapped around modern books to protect their cloth binding. Depending on the subject the absence of the original dust jacket on a book that lowers its value. The value of a Modern First Edition is devastated by the loss of a dustjacket. Other subjects the degree of the loss varies.
Disbound = Books and pamphlets which have been torn out of composite volumes, or books never bound, text disguarded and plates sold individually.This is considered a destructive practice by most booksellers.
Edition or Ed. = comprises to all the copies of a book printed from the one setting-up of type. There may be more than one printing run of an edition.
End Paper, Endsheet, Endp., or e.p. = Thedouble leaves added to the front and back by the binder; the outer leaf of each pasted to the inner board (pastedown), the other is free (the free endpaper). .
Ex-Library (Ex-lib) or Ex-libris = Books from a library collection. Usually showing heavy wear, library stamps, card pockets glued to the front of the book, glue residue. In general an ex library book is not in collectable condition and are basically reading copies.
Fair = A worn book that has complete text pages (including maps or plate/illustrations) it may lack endpaper(s), half-title, etc. (which must be noted). Binding, jacket (if any, etc., may also be worn. All defects must be noted. (AB Bookman.)
Fine = Approaches the condition of "As New", but without being crisp. To use the term Fine there must be no defects, etc., small tears, creasing or any defect must be noted (AB Bookman.) In describing older or Antiquarian books this standard is somewhat relaxed as the book is usually judged in accordance of the condition relative to other copies on the market.
First Edition = The first published appearance of a book. This is subject much discussed in the Antiquarian trade, with many opinions. For the most detailed and comprehensive use of this term it is best to refer to, John Carter's "ABC for Book Collectors." In addition Edward N. Zempel's, First Editions: A Guide to Indentification.
First Trade Edition = Distinguising the first "General or Commercial" release of a book from a limited edition, advance copy, etc.
Fly-Leaf = A binder's "Blank" leaf following the free front end paper. It is also used to describe the ffe itself.
Foxing = Pale to dark brow or yellowish spotting is a chemical reaction of the decay in the paper with normal moisture. Generally found in older books, especially on or around plates.
Frontispiece or Frontis = A plate or illustration, usually facing the title page. Generally found in the front or occasionally used as a division. The absence of a frontispiece sometimes indicates a later printing of the book.
Good = describing the average used and worn book that has all pages or leaves present. Any defects must be noted. (AB Bookman.)
Half-title = A page bearing a short title only and preceding the full title page.
Half or Three-Quarters Binding = When the spine and corners are covered in another specified material, usually cloth, calf, or morocco.
Illust(s) or ills. = Illustrations, plates, drawings
Inscribed = To distinguish from "signed" in that the author personalizes the inscription and sometimes includes a quotation, drawing, etc., which enhances the value. "Signed" would be the author's signature. Inscribed copies are more valuable especially when to a notable person.
Limited Edition = A publication in which the printing has been restricted in number. Typically a Limited Editions is signed and numbered by the author, and have a colophon indicating the total number of books printed. Limited editions with 1,000 or less print runs are considered more desirable. The lower the number of a volume in a limited run are considered more desirable.
Miniature = A book smaller than 16mo (32mo, 64mo, etc.) The accepted indentification is any book smaller than 2' by 1 1/2'. A popular formate of the 19th century.
n.p. =No place of publication indicated.
n.d. = No publication date indicated.
Op = Out-of-Print; no longer available from the publisher.
Plate = An illustration(s) generally printed on a different paper, and often by a different printing method (i.e. Chromolithograph).
Poor = Very worn; soiled, scuffed, spotted, cracked or loose hinges, closed tears, e-lib markings, etc. The text must be complete and legible. Often designated as a "Reading Cop." Any missing maps or plates must be noted.
pp. = Pages
Printing or Impression = Refers to all copies of a book printed in one production run.
Quarter Binding = Only the spine is covered in the specified material. The remaining board or cover is usually of a lesser material such as cloth or paper.
Remainder(Mark) = A remainder is a book that is sold in bulk by a publisher once its sales fallen off. Publishers often mark remaindered books by stampin, dotting or slashing an edge with a marker; also referred to as over runs. First editions with remainder marks are still considered collectable but of lesser value.
Shaken = Used mostly with cloth covered books, indicating the book itself is no longer firm in its covers. Most likely the inside hinges are cracked, binding is not always totally loose.
Stapled Wraps = No spine, bound with staples.
Stiff Wraps = Paper weight heavier than the leaves.
Tipped In = Usually referring to an illustration; lightly attached, by gum or paste, usually at the inner edge (ABC for Book Collectors)
Title page = The page bearing the title of the book, the author, usually the publisher and date.
Top Edge Gilt or t.e.g = A thin layer of gold leaf to the top edges of a book's pages.
Very Good = A used book that shows general signs of wear/age, no tears or significant defects. Any defects must be noted. Considered to be above average condition; however in todays world of bookselling, most sellers use this term loosely, describing the book with few small closed tears or chips.
Wrappers = The outer covering of a paperback book, sewn or stapled in sections. Not to be confused with "wrapper" which refers to the dust jacket of a hardcover book.