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AUSTRALIAN INTERNET BOOKSHOP

INTERNET BOOKSHOP: SELLING BOOKS SINCE 1998

PO Box 176, Annandale NSW 2038, Australia
Phone: (02) 9550-1258 (late afternoon or message).


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HOW WE DESCRIBE BOOKS

    KEYWORDS
    All our books are classified by keywords. Type one or more keywords in the Keyword field in our database search. A list of our keywords is available: KEYWORDS.

    PUBLICATION DATE

  • Year of publication, or (if not stated), copyright date.
  • If estimated, this is stated in the description.
  • If a reprint, this is stated in the description.

    TITLE

  • ( .... ): If part of the title is enclosed by round brackets, it appears on the front cover but not on the title page.
  • [ ..... ]: If part of the title is enclosed by square brackets, it is a clarification that assists a computer search. These exact words do not actually appear in the title.

    CONDITION

  • New: Mint, uncirculated.
  • As new: Almost new (fine condition).
  • Very good plus: Very minor wear (near fine condition).
  • Very good: Minor wear, creasing or marks.
  • Good: Significant wear or marks, especially to the spine.
  • Reading copy: Complete but damaged, for example, loose covers.

    COVER

  • Paperback: Paperback. Standard sizes are 110 x 175mm and 130 x 195mm.
  • Hardback [or] Hardback, jacket missing: Hardback without dustjacket (when issued with a dustjacket). Standard size is octavo.
  • Hardback [or] Hardback, issued without jacket: Hardback that is published without a jacket. Often has a pictorial board cover. Standard size is octavo.
  • Hardback dustjacket: Hardback with dustjacket or dustwrapper.

    BOOK SIZES

  • Paperback trade: Larger than standard paperback, but smaller than quarto.
  • Octavo: Standard hardback size (about 24 x 16cm). Assumed for hardbacks, unless otherwise stated.
  • Quarto: Size varies, but about 27.5 x 21cm.
  • Large quarto: Standard size of modern paper (A4 size, about 29.5 x 21cm).
  • Folio: Much larger than quarto. About double the size of octavo in height and width.

    THE BOOK
  • Autograph: Signature or written dedication by the author (not the owner), mostly on the flyleaf.
  • Blurb laid down: No dustjacket, but the blurb or flap from the dustjacket has been retained and pasted down onto the endpapers.
  • Dual binding: The hardback cover contains two styles of binding, including a superior textured binding along the spine. Termed quarter-bound for old books.
  • Edgewear: Cloth cover or dustjacket is slightly rubbed along part of the edges, sometimes exposing white material underneath (also termed: chipped).
  • Ex-library: Has cancelled library stamps and perhaps pockets and date-due sheets.
  • Flap clipped: Corner of dustjacket flap removed (to remove price).
  • Foxed: Brownish spots or discoloration, particularly along page edges and on the flyleaf.
  • Frontispiece: Photograph or drawing facing the title page.
  • Heavy book: Weighs more than about 840 grams - we may quote an extra amount for postage.
  • Hinge pulled: Hinge of the book is a little stretched, that is, the pages seem a little loose (though not actually partly or wholly detached).
  • Marked: Cover or pages are soiled, spotted, foxed or stained.
  • Owner's written name: Signature by the former owner (not the author), mostly on the flyleaf.
  • Pictorial cover: Picture or engraved letters on the front of the clothlike cover.
  • Protected: The book (usually valuable) is protected from damage by a removable semi-archival plastic cover or sleeve.
  • Remainder stripe: Black texta stripe, usually across bottom edge, indicating a remainder copy.
  • Reprint: Reprint edition (the stated year is the reprint date, not the original publication date).
  • Rubber stamp: Inked stamp, usually previous bookshop or owner, mostly on the flyleaf.
  • Text-photos: Photos on the same page as text.
  • Tipped-in: Photographs or diagrams that are pasted into the book during publication.
  • Uncut: Some page edges were not cut during manufacture, and thus the book cannot be opened at these pages. A desirable feature on antiquarian books.
  • Untrimmed: Pages not trimmed square (only roughly trimmed) on edges. Common on old books, or as a decorative effect on some new books.
  • Written dedication: Gift message, usually written on the flyleaf.
  • Yapp edges: The book cover is bigger than the page size, and thus overhangs the page edges.