A binding that was placed on the book at or around the time of publication. Some books were issued in paper covers, or plain cardboard boards, and the purchaser would often have a binding commissioned for it that would suit his taste or library. This was particularly common in France, where most books were published in this manner. Contemporary can mean original, but usually indicates some doubt as to that fact in the mind of the scrupulous seller (as opposed to "original boards," where the seller is confident). Contemporary, as used here, doesn’t mean "modern" or contemporary to you, unless you were around when the book was published, which probably isn't the case with this copy of De totius Africæ descriptione libri IX. by Johannes Leo Africanus, published in 1556, and offered in our Catalog 119. The work is generally considered the first work published in Europe by a person of primarily African descent.

You know, corners – the pointy things that stick out at the edges of the book. Like all things that stick out, they are the most likely to get bumped or worn. This lovely, unrestored copy of Ernest Hemingway’s The Sun Also Rises offered in our Catalog 105 had tiny nicks at the corners of the crown of the rare, first issue dustwrapper. Picky picky.

A permanent bend to a page or dustjacket. In days of yore some collectors would remove the jacket from the book, fold it neatly in two, and store it somewhere safe. When these Rip Van Winkle jackets are awakened and placed back on the book, they often look amazingly fresh and command a significant premium, though they will have a resulting crease down the spine from being folded. This lovely copy of Dawn Powell's Turn, Magic Wheel, offered in our Catalog 119, is one such jacket.

The very top edge of the spine, of either the book or the jacket. Since most people tug books off shelves from the crown, this area is very prone to wear. The recommended way to remove a book from a shelf is to push in the volumes on either side of the book you want, grasp the book around the spine with your fingers and thumb on the opposite boards, and pull. If you can do this then you’re welcome in our booth at the next ABAA book fair. However, we don't discriminate – even if you haven't mastered the not particularly fine art of removing a book from a shelf, you can still be welcomed into our booth. In that case all you have to do is point to one of the books under glass, like this copy of Hemingway's A Farewell to Arms offered in our Catalog 113 (with the crown pointed out for your edification), and declare "I'll buy that."