READ THIS BEFORE BUYING

 Sites with thousands of dealers
at one location

The advantage of BOOKSOLD is that by typing in an author or title and clicking the search button, you can see immediately what is available from thousands of dealers on the web.

Instructions
Fill out the form on the left part of the screen and click on SEARCH. If you do not find the book you are looking for, choose a new menu item from the list on the left, fill out the new form, and search again.

BOOKSOLD allows you to search one mega-site after another, rather than just being limited to the holdings at one or another site. And it speeds up the search, because you don't have to wait for the individual sites to load their initial pages in order to use their search capabilities.

More experienced users may want to configure BOOKSOLD to open with a particular search screen. To do this, click on CONFIGURE on the left menu list, and proceed accordingly.

A Few Comments
In our experience, it is a good idea to shop around the top sites, and look for the best price. Some dealers list at all the sites, but many do not. Also the same book from the same dealer may cost more at one site than another!

Read the descriptions carefully. The cheapest book is often not the best deal. Buy from a dealer who will accept returns for full refund, and who guarantees that the book is as described.

Remember also that condition and edition can drastically affect the value of a book. A fine copy of a first printing in dust jacket could be really cheap at $200.00, but a second printing in bad shape may be overpriced at $30.00. On the other hand, this is only true for some books, not for the vast majority. Educate yourself if you intend to buy a lot of books. Click on the underlined text to find out more by visiting the Information sites.

Also know who you are dealing with. Book dealers who are members of the ABAA --and affiliates in the ILAB--subscribe to a code of ethics. There are many other fine dealers in addition to ABAA members, so do not limit yourself to them, but do make sure that you are dealing with someone who will uphold the same standards, and stand by what they are selling.

Terms Concerning Condition

Mint
The book is in the same condition as a new book.

As New
Same as Mint.

Very Fine
You could give the book to a friend and they would think it was a new copy that you perhaps had read once carefully..

Fine
Shows only minor wear.

Very good
Some wear, but no major defects.

Good
Not so good. Stay away from books in this condition unless you have no choice.

Fair
Really in poor condition.

Poor
Complete garbage except for the rarest items.

A Few Other Terms

dj, dw, dust jacket, dust wrapper
All are terms for the piece of paper generally wrapped around the covers of a hardback book.

boards
What is under the cloth or leather or paper or plastic on the book covers, but now sometimes used to mean the covers themselves. Generally you will find it in descriptions such as "paper over boards"--meaning the book is a hardback, and the covering over the boards is paper.

pb, wraps, paperback, softback, mass-market paper, trade paper
All mean the book is a paperback book, not a hardback.

spine
The part of the binding that is on the edge connecting the front and back of the binding. Usually lettered with the title and or author and or publisher.

eps, endpapers
The piece of paper pasted down on the inside of the front and back covers, but loose on the other side where the pages are.

front fly, front free endpaper, rear free endpaper, rear fly
The loose part of the endpapers. See endpapers.

The above terms only scratch the surface. Find out more by visiting the .Information sites and links to dealers

Good luck, Bill McDonnell