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Book Condition Guide

Understanding book conditions helps you make informed decisions when buying or selling textbooks.

Excellent

Highest Value

Books in excellent condition are virtually indistinguishable from new books. They have been handled with great care and show minimal to no signs of use.

Characteristics:

  • Never read or read only once or twice
  • Pristine cover with no visible wear
  • Pages are clean and crisp
  • No writing, highlighting, or annotations
  • Spine is tight and undamaged
  • No dog-eared pages or creases

Good

Good Value

Books in good condition show some signs of use but remain fully functional and readable. They may have minor cosmetic issues but are still in solid condition.

Characteristics:

  • Minor to noticeable wear on cover and spine
  • May have light markings or creases
  • Pages are fully readable and intact
  • Minimal highlighting or annotations (if any)
  • Spine may show some wear but is still functional
  • No major damage or missing pages

Acceptable

Budget Friendly

Books in acceptable condition are heavily worn but still functional for reading and study. They offer the most affordable option while maintaining educational value.

Characteristics:

  • Heavily worn but intact and functional
  • May have annotations, highlights, or underlining
  • Cover and spine show significant wear
  • Pages may be dog-eared or have minor tears
  • Some fading or discoloration possible
  • All pages present and readable