This guide explains the various descriptions within each product listing:

New: A book that we sourced new from a publisher or their distributor.

As New:  A new book, but as we did not source it from a publisher - technically it is not brand new.

Near New:  As new with only one blemish/defect as stated. 

Immaculate:  As new with only a couple of minor blemishes/defects as stated.

Excellent:  Permits multiple blemishes/defects as stated, but remains clean, complete and intact.

Tidy:  Includes damage such as tears, semi-detached covers/pages or water damage/other significant marks/staining.  

Reading Copy:  A book that is very worn, soiled, damaged or partially mutilated, including the covers/pages detached or missing - but it is still complete enough to be at least readable.

We sell old books and ephemera, but we don't sell rubbish

Whilst the descriptions of tidy and reading copy are how the varying condition is technically categorised, an item would have to be very scarce or unusual for us to actually sell an item in this condition.

Item condition depicted within images

Notwithstanding our thorough descriptions, we still go to considerable effort to ensure that all need to know detail concerning a listing's imperfections or defects is made clearly obvious within the listing images.

Musty smelling books

Please remember that even an old book that is still in near brand new condition, is still an old book, and can sometimes smell a little musty.  This is simply the nature of old books but in extreme cases we will include this within the description.

Product quality

Unicorn Books goes to considerable effort to ensure that all product listing descriptions, especially on second hand items, are factual, accurate and complete.

All items go through two quality checks, the first when the item is listed, the second at sale/pre-shipping.