About Us
When buying a book its always very difficult understanding the definitions used as they do seem to vary with some book dealers and other internet based sources some of which may be just an assumption or guess of what the seller thinks no structured basis at all. Most certainly over the past 40 years of collecting books I always try to stick to sources that think along the same lines as myself and always
“ Do unto others as you would have done unto yourself ”
Set out below are my definitions of book grading;
Book Condition Grading
Mint Book/Dustjacket
As new, as you would expect to purchase from a bookshop.
Fine Book/Dustjacket
Looks new but on closer inspection reveals that it is second-hand by the presence
of signs of handling and /or shelf rubbing.
Very Good Book/Dustjacket
Clean pages with a tight binding. Light foxing or slight bumps to boards, may
contain a previous owners inscription and/or bookplate. The dust jacket may have
very slight nicks and edge tears, sunning to spine or indents from being leant on.
The book or dust jacket may be price clipped but this is always stated as is the
presence ,or lack of, an inscription.
Good Book/Dustjacket
The binding or boards may be marked in some way or soiled and the corners or
spine may be more heavily bumped. Hinges may be a little cracked with some sign
of webbing and foxing but all in all the book looks whole and integral. The dust
jacket may have some loss or larger tears, rather soiled and discoloured.
Poor Book/dust jacket
The book is starting to lose its integrity with severe marks, soiling and wear, there
may be heavy foxing, loose pages or substantial loss to the spine or the spine may
be detached. The dust jacket may be falling apart, have suffered massive loss or just
In a terrible condition.
Books of this quality may be only suitable as an infill, temporary copy until you can
source or save up for a better one or do as I do and use these as my reference or
reading copy. Yes I read all of my Rupert annuals and always have done.
Postscript
On many occasions you will find intermediate gradings ie, Near fine, Good to Very
Good or Very Good + or - then it is somewhere between the two gradings and any
obvious faults will be listed.
We do ask you to always bear in mind that Rupert Bear Annuals are almost always given as Christmas presents to children, unless like me you buy your own at Christmas, and as such are opened in the frantic excitement of Christmas morning after which the invariably young child will make his or her , yes a lot of girls have Rupert Annuals, mark in the book with their name and in the fullness of time may even start or complete the colouring competitions. Some will quite messy some will be very good and some will be truly inspirational as no doubt was Stuart Trotter the new illustrator of the Rupert Bear Annuals from 2008, whose ambition from childhood was to be the Rupert illustrator and this ambition he has achieved.