Condition Guide

When purchasing rare books or artifacts, the condition plays a key role in assessing their value, character, and story. At anec•dote, we follow established industry standards to describe as best we can, the state of each item in our collection, providing transparency and helping you make an informed choice. From pristine treasures to well-loved relics, these descriptions offer insight into the history and preservation of each piece.

 

What do our descriptions mean?

FINE (F): Pristine - as new or very close to what one could expect to find in the publisher’s warehouse.

NEAR FINE (NF): Very slight fault or two, such as light rubbing. Nearly as good as you would expect to find in a new bookstore.

VERY GOOD+ (VG+): Minor faults - at a glance nearly as good as you might expect to find in a new bookshop, but at closer inspection showing some signs of wear, age or minor damage.

VERY GOOD (VG): Moderate faults but still looking essentially sound and tidy. Appears aged or secondhand, not new, but may also have a great patina and story to tell!

GOOD+ (G+): Damaged but still a good reading copy or exciting aged object bringing to life a great story.

GOOD (G): Good that it exists, but it is certainly damaged and may be incomplete.

 

A Note on Condition Descriptions

While we strive to provide accurate and consistent descriptions of the condition of our books and artifacts, it's important to remember that these assessments are subjective. Each piece is unique, and its state may be interpreted differently depending on individual perspectives.

We encourage and warmly welcome you to visit our Mt Eden store to view items in person before purchasing. There's nothing quite like seeing, holding, and exploring these treasures up close. We’d love the chance to meet you and share their stories!