Book Condition Guidelines
At Arcadian Books & Prints, we sell both new and used physical books. To keep things clear and consistent, we use the condition categories below across our store. The condition shown on each product page refers to the specific copy you’re purchasing.
Quick Notes
- Used books: May show normal signs of handling or reading.
- New books: Are unused, but may occasionally have minor shelf wear from storage or shipping.
- Important: Condition is based on the book’s overall appearance, including the cover, spine, binding, and pages.
Condition Categories
New
- Brand new and unread.
- Clean pages with a tight binding.
- No writing, highlighting, stickers, or stamps.
- Cover and spine are crisp with minimal to no shelf wear.
Like New
- Appears almost new and may be unread or lightly handled.
- Clean pages and a tight binding.
- No writing, highlighting, or missing pages.
- Very minimal wear to cover or corners.
Very Good
- Light signs of use, but remains in excellent overall condition.
- Pages are clean and readable; binding is solid.
- May have small cosmetic wear (minor corner wear, light scuffs, light creasing).
- May include a previous owner name or small inscription (if present, it is minor).
- No missing pages.
Good
- Readable and intact, with noticeable signs of use.
- May have light to moderate wear on cover/spine (creasing, scuffing, edge wear).
- Pages may show light notes or highlighting.
- Binding remains usable, though it may show some looseness.
- May include stickers, stamps, or minor markings (common in used books).
- No missing pages.
Acceptable
- A heavily used but readable copy.
- May have significant wear (heavy creasing, noticeable scuffs, worn edges).
- May include notes, highlighting, stamps, or stickers.
- Binding may be loose, but pages remain attached and readable.
- No missing pages (unless explicitly stated on the product listing).
Common Used-Book Characteristics
Some used books may include one or more of the following. These do not automatically make a book defective:
- Light shelf wear or mild cover creasing
- Price stickers or residue from stickers
- Library stamps or markings (only if the book is listed in a condition where this is typical)
- A previous owner’s name written inside the front cover
Condition on the Product Page
The condition shown on each product page is the condition rating for that item at the time of listing. If a listing includes additional notes (e.g., “ex-library”, “highlighting”, “dust jacket included”), those details will appear on the product page when applicable.
Questions Before You Order?
If you have questions about a book’s condition before ordering, contact us and include the book title (and order number if applicable).
Contact Information
Arcadian Books & Prints
Address: 714 Orleans St, New Orleans, LA 70116, United States
Phone: +1 (504) 523-4138
Email: help@arcadianbooksandprints.com
Business Days: Monday – Saturday
Business Hours: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM