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Book Grading

"Always bear in mind that a bookseller's reputation and credibility are his most valuable assets, and accurate description preserves that credibility." -AB Bookman's Weekly

Top Shelf Books adheres to the traditional bookseller's grading terms originally propounded in the periodical AB Bookman's Weekly. AB Bookman's Weekly was described as "the leading trade publication in the antiquarian world" with books for sale, trade news, reference lists, conference announcements, and special features concerning the book trade, librarianship, and book collecting. Publication ceased in 1999 with the advent of the Internet book portals such as Amazon. After TSB went online in 1996, we expanded the classic grading terms to include terms more searchable on the Internet and compatible with book portal websites.

Very Fine/As New: Book and jacket are without defects. Essentially a new and/or unread book in crisp condition.
Fine: Book and jacket show light handling and/or shelfwear, but pages are clean, crisp, boards are straight and jacket is without defects. A book can be an unread copy but still graded as Fine only in that it's an older book with age-related shelfwear. (Minor defects, if any, are noted.)
Near Fine/Very Good: Moderate handling, normal shelfwear and any defects are noted.
Good: Wear with any one or all defects including jacket tears, textblock dents or stains, spine leaned, etc., are noted.
Fair: Heavy handling, damage and wear, all defects noted.
Poor: Usually an ex-library copy with paste-downs, damage, stains, etc. and usually reserved as a reading copy only. All defects noted. Book and jacket are without defects. Essentially a new and/or unread book in crisp condition. Book and jacket show light handling and/or shelfwear, but pages are clean, crisp, boards are straight and jacket is without defects. A book can be an unread copy but still graded as Fine only in that it's an older book with age-related shelfwear. (Minor defects, if any, are noted.) Moderate handling, normal shelfwear and any defects are noted. Wear with any one or all defects including jacket tears, textblock dents or stains, spine leaned, etc., are noted. Heavy handling, damage and wear, all defects noted. Usually an ex-library copy with paste-downs, damage, stains, etc. and usually reserved as a reading copy only. All defects noted.

If you are a consumer you can withdraw from the contract in accordance with the following. Consumer means any natural person who is acting for purposes which are outside his trade, business, craft or profession.

Information regarding the right of withdrawal

Statutory right to withdraw

You have the right to withdraw from this contract within 14 days without giving any reason.

The withdrawal period will expire after 14 days from the day on which you acquire, or a third party other than the carrier and indicated by you acquires, physical possession of the last good or the last lot or piece.

To exercise the right of withdrawal, electronically fill in and submit a clear statement on our website, under "My Purchases" in "My Account". We will communicate to you an acknowledgement of receipt of such a withdrawal on a durable medium (e.g. by e-mail) without delay.

To meet the withdrawal deadline, it is sufficient for you to send your communication concerning your exercise of the right of withdrawal before the withdrawal period has expired.

Effects of withdrawal

If you withdraw from this contract, we will reimburse to you all payments received from you, including the costs of delivery (except for the supplementary costs arising if you chose a type of delivery other than the least expensive type of standard delivery offered by us).

We may make a deduction from the reimbursement for loss in value of any goods supplied, if the loss is the result of unnecessary handling by you.

We will make the reimbursement without undue delay, and not later than 14 days after the day on which we are informed about your decision to withdraw from this contract.

We will make the reimbursement using the same means of payment as you used for the initial transaction, unless you have expressly agreed otherwise; in any event, you will not incur any fees as a result of such reimbursement.

We may withhold reimbursement until we have received the goods back, or you have supplied evidence of having sent back the goods, whichever is the earliest.

You shall send back the goods or hand them over to Top Shelf Books, Santa Rosa, California, U.S.A., without undue delay and in any event not later than 14 days from the day on which you communicate your withdrawal from this contract to us. The deadline is met if you send back the goods before the period of 14 days has expired. You will have to bear the direct cost of returning the goods. You are only liable for any diminished value of the goods resulting from the handling other than what is necessary to establish the nature, characteristics and functioning of the goods.

Exceptions to the right of withdrawal

The right of withdrawal does not apply to:

1. The delivery of newspapers, journals or magazines with the exception of subscription contracts; and
2. The supply of digital content which is not supplied on a tangible medium (e.g. on a CD or DVD) if you accepted when you placed your order that we could start to deliver it, and that you could not withdraw once delivery had started.

All books are shipped with USPS Delivery Confirmation and Tracking numbers that can be viewed online at the USPS website. Shipping for oversized books, either by size or weight, will first be submitted to the Customer for approval prior to shipment. If shipping is declined, the order will be cancelled. International shipments to selected countries in Asia, Japan, Australia and selected countries in the European Union for International Priority Mail (6 to10 business day delivery). Multiple books can be shipped either Priority or International 1st Class Mail, subject to shipping charges. We do not guarantee International 1st Class Mail shipments, but we include tracking information and shipments can be insured at Buyer's expense. A copy of the mailing confirmation with tracking is emailed to the Buyer.