Haydn: Master Musicians Series (Hughes) PB 1978

CONTENT:
Biography of the composer with a focus on musical analysis of his works.  Part of a Dent series..

CONDITION:
The book's condition is VERY GOOD-  (see grading key below).  Light surface wear to jacket.  Pages clean, unmarked, light tan.

POSTAGE:

GRADING KEY:

We try to describe all pre-owned books according to the following system of grades; +/- symbols or split grades are assigned to books in borderline condition:

MINT:  Perfect condition, no flaws.  Very few, if any, pre-owned books will be in this condition.

NEAR MINT:  Almost perfect, but with very slight flaws, e.g. like a brand new book with a small amount of shelf wear.

VERY FINE:  Generally in excellent condition, but with slight visible flaws, e.g. very minor scuffing, very tiny bumps to corners or dents to jacket/cover, minor spine creases, perhaps some loss of shine on gilts and veneers.  Pages should be white, perhaps with a slight loss of brilliance.  Books kept in good storage with little or no use can achieve this condition.

FINE:  More obviously visible signs of wear and use, perhaps slightly larger scuffs, dents, or small stains, or very minor edge tears/creases to dust jacket or cover.  Pages can be a just little off-white or only very slightly tanned, but should still be bright.  Older books, (or newer books that have been well read) if carefully stored and transported, can achieve this condition.

VERY GOOD:  Generally in good shape, but perhaps with one larger defect, such as a very visible tear/stain/crease, light to middle tanning of pages, minor bind damage/creasing, or minor hinge cracks, which would prevent description as FINE.  Also applies to books with somewhat heavier generalized wear in their appearance, or which may have some markings on internal pages.

GOOD:  Also generally in good shape, with binding largely intact, but with multiple larger flaws, such as a combination of tears and bumps, or minor warping, heavy edge rubbing/fraying, or noticeable loosening of hinges.  Pages may be deeply tanned in some older volumes, or may be marked/slightly stained.  In this condition, the book will appeal to those who really need to read it and are attracted by its lower price, or collectors who cannot find a better specimen.

FAIR:  Poor overall condition; quite battered, with multiple large flaws as for GOOD condition above, but more severe in their impact or extent.  May have frays to board edges, or partial splits to edge of outer spine cap.  Bind integrity could be poor.  Older volumes may have mildew stains to board edges.  Not collectible at all unless that particular book is extremely rare and sought after. OK as a reading copy.

READABLE:  Very poor physical condition; may have portions (or all) of cover missing, serious tears, bashes, warping, and/or significant stains.  Binding may be split or detached.  All pages present, but some may be detached.  Possibly extensive mildew or water damage.  Really only for those who need to read that text and cannot get another copy anywhere else.

Note:  While trying to make our descriptions as objective as possible, please remember that this is still really a subjective exercise; one man’s FINE is another’s GOOD.  Also remember that age and original quality of production affect our judgement;  a mass market volume produced in 1920 may be in worse physical condition than a deluxe volume produced on high quality paper (with less acids) in 1978, but we may grade them similarly.  We cannot always compare like with like.