Holiday Shopping
When dealing with holiday shopping for used books there is always a bit of a learning curve. There are many things one need to pay attention to.
One of the main issues is separating oneself from the giftee. If you collect hardcovers, you might tend to think of hardcovers as the only format to buy. While they might love what you give, it might not be practical for them. To avoid this a person will have to study the one they are buying for. Asking oneself the following questions might help you find the perfect match:
Do they have a favorite author or illustrator?
What genre of books do they prefer to read?
Are they already a book collector? What do they collect?
What children’s books are they most nostalgic about?
Do they travel? Do they have a favorite destination?
What inspires them in the world of science, religion, or society?
What are their passions? Do they have any hobbies?
Who are their heroes or favorite celebrities?
How much space do they have?
When do they read?
Having the answers to those questions will help guide one to the correct gift.
Another issue is the condition. Buying a new book is easy, but when you start looking into the realm of second hand & collector items there is condition issues. The book industry tends to use a set of terms to describe book conditions and types. Reading the descriptions will help you understand what exactly you are getting. There are some differences in terms between antiquarian and second hand books, but the following is a good start:
New: brand new from the publisher, no defects
As New/ Fine: without defects
Near Fine: only minor defects
Very Good: some signs of wear
Good: a well-read copy with definite wear
Fair: shows significant wear, staining, or writing inside, but is complete and intact
Poor / Acceptable/ Reading Copy: extremely significant wear, such as loose binding or pages, but still complete and readable.
Ex-Library: covered with library markings & stamps, sometimes paired with the conditions listed above.
Another issue is if the book is signed or inscribed/dedicated. Signed means the author has signed their name in the book. Inscribed or dedicated means they signed it TO someone. Some collectors don’t care if its dedicated, others hate it. The same with bookplates.
Then there is cover art. Some books are reprinted by many publishing houses over the years. All can be listed as “first editions,” as in first for that publisher. A little research can tell you who published the book first. Keep in mind that each publisher can change the cover art and sometimes publish different covers for their world-wide locations. The following link gives a very clear example of this https://blog.flipsnack.com/harry-potter-book-covers-all-around-the-world/
All in all, book buying for gifts should be a fun experience. If there is any confusion on the conditions, or if the photos aren’t clear enough. One should always feel free to contact the bookseller. We all want books to be in good hands and are willing to help. Even if you are not buying from us.
Happy reading.