J. Lawton, Booksellers
James Lawton, Proprietor and former Rare Book Librarian and Bibliographer.
Business established 1981.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CONDITION STATEMENTS
Below is a list of standard gradients used by book collectors and book sellers. They are, of course, used subjectively and one person’s Very good can be another’s Fine. We try to be conservative & also note any major flaws. We note dust jacket condition separately and only if present. We seldom note the absence of a dust jacket as many books were issued without dust jackets and the mistaken description of a missing non-existant dust jacket has often led to confusion.
Our Book grading:
AS NEW - Unhandled; still in the publisher's shrink wrap
FINE - Almost new. May show the merest traces of handling or use. Appearing to be unowned and unread. Note: A book with a remainder mark is not 'FINE'.
VERY GOOD - Modest wear may show signs of previous ownership; Dust Jacket*, if present, may show faint blemishing (light scuffs, nicks, fading, few small edge tears)
GOOD - Average wear, aging, fading & soiling. DJ*, if present, with chips and tears.
FAIR - Used worn and/or soiled, but complete and usable.
POOR - Not worth selling or buying, might have one or two reads left in it.
Ex-library (Ex-lib) - has the usual library markings such as rubber or blind stamp on title page and/or edges, pockets at one end or the other, label on the spine, etc. This is used in combinition with the above grades.
D.J. or Dust Jacket also called Dust Wrapper (DW). We usually describe the DJ condition separately as follows:
Fine - as good as you would find in a new book store.
Very good - modest wear, no noticible blemishes, price not clipped.
Good - average wear, some light fading or soiling, price may be clipped
Chipped - 'good' but chipped around the edges
Worn - noticible fading and or soiling, some chips and scratches
Tattered - very worn, tears & some pieces gone.
Terms of Sale:
STOCK: All items guaranteed to be as described. All books are hardcover unless otherwise described. Dust jackets are described if present.
TERMS: Payment with order. We accept MC*, Visa*, AmEx*, Discover*, PayPal and checks in US $ or UK £ when ordered directly or MC*, Visa*, & AmEx* when ordering through the TomFolio.com shopping cart.. Institutions with purchase order can be invoiced. Returns accepted upon notification within 7 days of receipt. Mass. residents add 5% sale tax.
NOTE:On credit card orders we are now required to have billing address and V-code (Verification Code is a 3-4 digit non-embossed number found on the card signature panel on back or near embossed number on front.)
PRIVACY POLICY: Information about our customers will not be given by us to anyone for any reason.
SHIPPING: (average book of 2 lbs or 1 Kg)
US POSTAGE: Priority mail (2-3 days) at cost: ca. $4.05 - $8.10; OR, Media mail (2-5 weeks): $2.75
INTERNATIONAL POSTAGE at cost: Surface Mail - ca.$6.00 - $11.00; Air Mail -ca.$9.50 - $30.00.
Primary Business: Online dealer- used and/or new
Catalogs or book lists occasionally emailed. Please email your name and interests.
Appraisal services for insurance and estates.
