"One man's trash is another man's treasure"...Is it Mint or Fine? Or do both those words fit the same description? When it comes to grading the condition of collectible vintage paperback books and pulps there are two outstanding references that are in use by book sellers and collectors today.

The current "Bible" is COLLECTABLE  PAPERBACK  BOOKS ,    A  New Vintage Paperback Price Guide ,  Second Edition ,    Jeff Canja,   Glenmoor Publishing, 2002  ISBN # 6-967369-50. $29.95. It Lists more than 12,600 records of actual sales of collectable paperbacks.

The second reference is HANCER'S PRICE GUIDE TO PAPERBACK BOOKS,  Third Edition, Wallace-Homestead Book Company 1990 ISBN # 087069-586-3. Over 30, 000 books are listed in this reference.

      GRADING STANDARDS ACORDING TO CANJA

FINE (F)  Books graded Fine are unused and like new without any flaws. A Fine book is comparable to a new paperback on a bookstore shelf. Pure white pages are not required for this grade, however, as a slight darkening of the page with age is inevitable.

ABOUT FINE (AF) Books in this grade are also unread and like new, but have some very minor imperfections, generally due to storage or shelf wear. For example, the book might have slight edge wear, a small chip at the top or base of the spine, light rubbing of the cover or some other minor flaw. These are extremely high quality books.

VERY GOOD TO FINE (VGF) Books gaded VGF are high quality copies that show minor signs of use. This is the highest grade for any book that appears to have been read. For example, if a book has a light crease down the spine from being opened, but no other significant flaw it would qualify as VGF. Paperbacks that were read carefully one time then put back on the shelf, will generally be in VGF condition. This condition is also used for unread books that are not quite About Fine due to some more noticeable flaw.

VERY GOOD PLUS (VG+) Books in this grade show more obvious signs of use but still appear to be above average used copies with no significant creasing, spine roll, page browning, or other serious problem.

VERY GOOD (VG) Books grading VG are typical used books and will exhibit general wear (but not heavy wear). Flaws common to this grade include minor cover creasing, light spine roll, minimal water stains, spine fading (from exposure to sunlight) and peeling cover lamination. This grade covers the widest range of condition and it is expected that some books grading VG will appear to be somewhat better than others.

GOOD (G) Books in this grade will show heavy signs of use but will still be complete and intact, including both covers, spine and all pages. Also, any book that would be in a higher grade but has some major flaw, such as a clipped corner or a serious cover crease, should generally be downgraded to Good.

GOOD MINUS (G-) Any truly poor books (i.e., torn, taped, or heavily warped) receive this lowest grade.

Additional plus and minus signs are occasionally used to indicate relative strength within a grade.

      GRADING ACCORDING TO HANCER'S STANDARDS

MINT (M) As issued. The book is absoulutely brand new, perfect in every way and just as clean and bright as the day it was printed. This condition grade is seldom, if ever, found.

NEAR MINT (NM) Almost perfect. The cover is bright, crisp, and unfaded. Original plastic lamination, (if any) is intact. The spine is very tight, square, and clean. The pages are still largely white, with a slight darkening due to age. The book looks virtually like a perfect copy.

VERY FINE (VF) Very minor defects. All aspects of the book are clean and fresh with no major signs of wear. There may be light fading on the cover or spine, with perhaps very minor wear spots along the books exterior edges.

FINE (F)  Some evidence of slight wear. This copy may have been read carefully once or twice, resulting in a light crease along the edge of the cover by the spine. There are minor stress lines on the spine. The binidng is still tight. Original cover lamination (if any) may be slightly peeling at the corners. Edge staining could be slightly fading. Pages are largely white but browning around the edges. No major creases or bends are in the covers. Light wear, minor colorflaking, or minor rubbing is noticeable on the extremities. An assortment of minor indications of wear are present, but the book remains a very nice copy.

VERY GOOD (VG) An obviously read, but fairly tight copy. Plastic lamination (if any) is noticeably peeling in spots. There are slight bends or creases in the cover.The pages are fairly fresh but browning. The spine is bent from several readings but not broken or torn. Wear Spots, chipping, and rubbing are noticeable but not major. Cover lustre and gloss have faded. There are no tears in the spine and no tape repairs. Very minor spine splits may be noticeable at the top and bottom.

GOOD (G) The average used copy. the cover has bends and creases and is faded. The copy is complete with no pages missing. The spine is loose and possible splitting on either end but is intact. The spine could be rolled. Minor tears might be present on some pages. No pieces of the cover are missing. Although this copy has been read many times and shows obvious signs of wear, it is still holding together.

FAIR (F) Very heavily read and possibly soiled, but still complete and readable. Torn covers or pages are likely, as is a rolled spine. Damage from the elements or stains may be evident. This is a reading copy only.

POOR (P) Damaged, Heavily worn, and soiled. Pages or parts of the cover may be missing. The copy is unreadable and unsuitable for collecting. Books of this quality genearlly belong in the garbage.

Th difference in the condition descriptions in these two references creates confusion initially. It is up to the seller to resolve this dilemma by eliminating the abbreviations and choosing one standard ... either  CANJA or HANCER... and using their full description appropriate for grading the condition for each pulp or paperback offerred in the auction.

In the case of large lots the Seller might return to using the grading abbreviations but note somewhere in his/her description that he/she grades condition using either Canja or Hancer's  grading standards.  

There seems to be some difference of opinion about what the word "Vintage "actually means. I have seen paper backs listed as vintage with copyright/printing years in the 1980's. Actually to be considered vintage the item must be at least 45 years old. Some purists would say at least 50 years or more. I have also seen the statement " in real good condition for it's age" as if the seller believed that the book should be graded on a sliding scale according to it's age. That statement has no validity to a collector. I have some pulps from the 1930's that are in better condition than paperbacks not yet 4 years old.

RECOMMENDATIONS FOR VINTAGE BOOK SELLERS

At a minimum the Seller should include in his description the Full Title, The Authors Full Name, The Publisher, The Book Number (e.g. Signet #1942). The Copyright year, The edition and printing year, grade and description of condition.

If you really want to create interest... Give the bidder a Teaser line or two.. from  the wording inside  the front page or back cover.

Photographs are not an option they are a requirement. One of the cover and one of the spine and if their are any major defects it is best to get a close up photo so that you don't get hassled for a refund... better yet just don't include a bum book in your auction except as a "freebie".

Adopting a consistent grading standard is one way for a Seller to establish a trustworthy reputation and to garner repeat customers.

Thank you for your time. I hope this information will be useful in your quest to buy/sell or build your collection of those great vintage paperback and pulp books.