Over the years, our condition descriptions have by necessity become very formal and quite structured. In order to meet the many and diverse expectations of our distance customers, we have created a description formula that - as close as we can come - covers every aspect of a book's condition. When we follow these guidelines, we are far less likely to miss any element of a book's condition, and therefore less likely to disappoint our customers.

A book lister has several responsibilities when creating a listing, including full disclosure, accuracy, clarity and readability. Please always remember two things: humor and creativity are always welcome, and a lister's most important duty is to act as an advocate for the client who cannot hold and inspect a book being considered for purchase.

• Guidelines for all sentences
  
  
  • Written in full subject-and-predicate sentences
  • Grammatically correct English
  • Spelling checked
  • All qualities modified
  • No ampersands
  • No abbreviations
  • No superfluous capitalization
  • Two spaces between sentences
  
  
• Guidelines for each sentence:
  
  
  • First Sentence - Introduction and Textblock:
    • Short overall summation
    • Something nice/flattering/positive
    • Year of publication
    • The binding format
    • Number of pages
    • Edition and printing
    • Cleanliness
    • Tightness
    • Squareness
    • Presence/absence of highlighting, underlining and/or marginalia
    • All fault calls, modified
    
    
  • Second Sentence - Softcover Covers and Spine:
    • Compliment
    • Type (pictorial, uncoated)
    • Color of covers
    • Cleanliness
    • Brightness
    • Uncreased/creased
    • Finish rubbing
    • Bumping, denting handling sign
    • Corner health
    • All fault calls, modified
    
    
  • Second Sentence - Hardcover Boards and Backstrip:
    • Compliment
    • Type (glazed, buckram, gilt-stamped)
    • Quality of lettering and designwork
    • Color of coverboards
    • Cleanliness
    • Brightness
    • Finish rubbing
    • Bumping, denting handling sign
    • Corner health
    • All fault calls, modified
    
    
  • Third Sentence - Dustjacket (Note absence if the book is hardcover)
    • Compliment
    • Type (pictorial, uncoated)
    • Color
    • Cleanliness
    • Brightness
    • Uncreased/creased
    • Clipped/unclipped
    • Finish rubbing
    • Bumping, denting handling sign
    • Corner health
    • All fault calls, modified