How to Identify a Book's Flaws When You Sell a Book

The book you are holding in your hand might look in perfect, mint condition – but is it really? Learn how to examine a book to identify its flaws. Some of what is considered to be a flaw – and what's not considered to be a flaw – may surprise you. These tips are designed to help you identify a book's flaws if you have a book you want to value, either for collecting, reselling, or retail purposes.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Book

1. Examine the book's covers, also called boards on hardbacks. Note, with hardcover books, whether or not a dust jacket (dust wrapper) is included. Most hard covers come with dust jackets. Note in the book description if the dust jacket is missing.

2. Note in the book description if you find any smudges or marks on the covers / boards. Note too whether the covers have any tears or the boards have any dents, faded spots, or bashed corners. If a paperback book, are the covers folded over, creased, or clipped? These are all flaws.

3. Examine the condition of the spine for book flaws. Are there any rips or tears? Do the pages seem firmly bound to the spine, or have they been bowed out from too much folding back of the book's covers? Are the pages "tight to the spine" - that is, completely intact and not coming out (or starting to come out) anywhere?

4. Note further regarding the spine: If the book is a paperback, how creased is the spine? Any amount of creasing is considered a flaw, and some creasing may look mild on the spine but indicate a problem with pages coming detached.

5. Gently fan through the book's pages. Are all the pages present and accounted for, or are some missing? Are any of the pages damaged in any way? Is there any writing, underlining, staining, or foxing (moldy blots or spots)? Is any of the text obliterated? Are there any spots or areas with severe mold (different from foxing, which doesn't generally cause a moldy smell)? Also note if the pages are discolored – this could be a sign of acid paper deteriorating and becoming brittle, even if no chips or flakes are seen. These are all book flaws.

6. Look at the front matter (flyleaf, pastedown, title, half title, frontispiece.) Often you'll find writing, stamping, or other markings. Any marks inside the book will need to be noted in the book's description as flaws, except:

7. Is the book signed by the author? Is there an autograph or inscription anywhere in the book? An autograph or inscription by the author is usually not considered a flaw.

8. Look at the book's page edges. Are there any stamps or marks? Even small marks might indicate that the book was a remainder.

Tips & Warnings

• For more information if you are selling books, see my other related articles in the Resources section on How to Rate Book Condition and How to Describe a Book's Condition.
• Be careful when handling books. Don't open new books too widely or the spine will crack. Be gentle with the pages; if they're brittle from the spread of acid, they could flake.
• Do not sell a book that has severe mold problems, has any text pages missing or is damaged so the text cannot be read.

Resources

• How to Describe Book Condition
• How to Rate a Book Condition
• Alibris connects people who love books, movies and music to thousands of independent sellers around the world