Hiding the Defects on a Book...

Used books come with a history. Sometimes it's a history you'd rather not advertise.

Worst is the underlining and highlighting usually found in textbooks or assigned reading college books... There is not much you can do with these except disclose the defect: "Some highlighting throughout." "Some highlighting, not much." Etc.

If there is writing in the margins or underlining...I sometimes say: "Some insightful Marginalia included at no extra charge!"

Ex Libris...? "Delightful Ex Libris on inside cover" Sometimes I describe the Book Plate especially if its vintage, or fits the book in some way. I sold a History of the Coast Guard with a Rockwell Kentish "fish" motiff Book Plate... This is a plus for many buyers.

Owners signiture on the inside cover or FFEP (First Free EndPaper)...? I'd Say: "Prior Owners signiture FFEP."

Or, "Prior owner's notes inside cover."

Some people don't sign their books, but have stickers or even embossed seals!

Others sign their books in unusual places... I had a couple sign the title page...not the author! Another signed the first page of text...! Go Figure...

If a price...usually low like 50 cents...is on the FFEP...and you've sold the book for $20+...sometimes s discrete black marker just the size of the offensive price will do the trick...

This also works for those odd: "Not for Resale" stamps you see in some books... Why raise unneeded questions in the minds of the buyer... Why is this book "Not for Resale"...? Who Cares...it was probably "comped" to someone at a university or at a book fair...it's still the same book.

Assuming it's not an Advance Reading Copy (ARC) or Uncorrected Proof which are often considered to be "hyper-first editions," even though Amazon won't allow you to sell them... Some collectors will pay extra for ARCs or Uncorrected Proofs...especially for block buster best sellers.

If a book has really odd marks on the FFEP or inside cover sometimes one of your own "Ex Librises will cover the defect...although occasionally the defect will still show through on the other side of the FFEP. But a new ExLibris does dress up a used book at times.

On really old books check for dead insects...moldy backs and water damage...always check the back of the book inside the DJ...that's where they hide...

Bumped corners can be hit with an appropriate marker to "color" them back up... Really scuffed corners can be "re-built" with a dab of bookbinders glue that drys clear.

Then alas, the "remainder mark" which is usually on the pages edges...but often hidden near the spine...nothing you can do.

Also beware of "remainder spray" which is a marbling look on the page bottoms... No it's not decoration! Although I think it sometimes looks nicer than a black mark!

With old library books that are stamped up and rebound...sometimes there is an extra FFEP which if removed...will rid you have 80% of the Librarians "damage" to the book. A vast improvment...and only at the cost of a sharp razor blade...!

All this extra effort can make an old book look better than you found it...

The Best Color for Dust Jackets and Their Repair...?

Black DJ's wear well. They are the Best!

They can be cleaned up and touched up to like new appearance especially when put in new mylar.

White DJ are the worst! They show every mark, scratch and bump... And if you try to repair them they just look worse.

Matte finish DJs, usually on older books, should never be cleaned with liquids...water or alcohol...they will shred immediately. Erasers will abraid them quickly...making whatever the problem was even worse... And well, matte finished white DJ's...! Yeah Right...

Other good DJ colors are red, blue and dark green...these touch up nicely with colored makers or "Sharpies."

The best touch up for black and white photos...usually of the author on the back cover...is a regular pencil... Finding really good light grey colored markers is impossible...they are usually too "black" and ruin the look.

Another odd fact is that "True Crime" books almost always have black DJs... Go Figure. Just look in the True Crime section and your bound to notice this... True Crime is also a good seller...there is always someone who wants to read about horrid crimes! Perhaps they are mystery readers normally...?

Holiday Sales Over... Only one "crackpot" feedback.

The on-line portion of the Holiday rush is over. And all the books are in the mail...so far so good. No complaints.

I was however hit by one of those "out of the blue" bad feedbacks from an elderly woman in the DC area who thought the paper in her book looked "20 years old"...

It was a Plume Edition trade paperback on that "pulpy" paper that some publishers use these days... And, it does oxidize fast.

I will probably take a hit on sales for a while because of this 2 of 5 "crank" feedback... But hopefully it will be buried soon enough with other feedbacks and it's influence on buyers will dissipate.

This particular "crack pot" did not take well to my suggestion that she remove her feedback.

The book, by the way was new...but sort of limp from the kind of paper used...but still obviously un-touched and un-read.

This crack pot started sending me three page diatribes about her kids and how rude I was and on and on.... I decided to just let it lie.... Shes dangerous... And I'd rather take my hit and move on because Amazon is big on "customer harrassment" issues. And Holiday sales would likely be ending soon any way...

Of course the nightmare scenario is having two "crackpot" feedbacks hit at the same time.

Most people on Amazon don't leave feedback...only about 1 in 20 bother...so the field of potential posters is salted with cranks, crackpots and other nut cases that are best left alone.

Curiously, none of these cranks and crackpots would need to post negative feedback, with me at least, if they would just email their issues first...

In the case above, I refunded her money and told her to keep the book as a gift...which naturally she twisted into an some bizarro attack on my credibility...

Well, this is not an easy business...Shit does happen occasionally. But we move on to the next and sooner or later forget the unpleasant ones.

Postscript: The crank feeback was removed by the buyer later in the week... So I've dodged another bullet on Amazon...! Still at 100%...

Lists of the best out of print books to buy

This link provides information on the best selling out of print books for booksellers to buy... All the the titles have a certain "Cult Status"...and they provide a rough guide for purchases outside of the list as well.

In other words, the "concept" of why this or that book is desireable...not necessarily the title itself...