I received a hardcover sans dust jacket which is allowable. The navy blue cover has a few greasy splotches as if a previous owner was eating french fries while reading it. When I think of stains, I think of something with color...i.e, chocolate stain/tomato sauce. Would you classify greasy fingerprints on a hard cover as a stain?

I don't mind the fingerprints (I'm glad to be able to read the book), but I want to be sure that I can repost this title.

Would you classify greasy fingerprints on a hard cover as a stain?

I think anything that is not native to the book originally, that's not a produce of natural aging (like foxing or yellowing) is a stain unless it's done by writing instruments. (In which case where it's written on makes a difference.)

It doesn't have to change color or have any color to it, but change the paper/cover/texture of the book. Stains can be clear, like water, and change the paper/cover texture.

Many things can cause stains (water, grease, oils)  and none of them are allowed on any book here with the exception of cookbooks and food stains. Occupational hazard there.

There's no way I'd catagorize greasy splotches as postable unless it was a cookbook, and then you'd have to PM me and ask it it was okay. So no, I'd say not postable if it's not a cookbook.

Overall Condition:

• No damage at all from water or other liquid
• Not soiled
• No stains (exception for cookbooks--see below)
• No mold
• no highlighting, underlining or writing on text pages (exception for Textbooks/Workbooks and travel guidebooks --see below)

Any foreign substance on a book that cannot be wiped off will fall into at least one of the first 3 categories.

Aww...it's not a cookbook. A rare rwap this time. Thank you for the help.

Have you considered that if this book arrived with a dust jacket you would never know about the stains. I have recieved some hardbacks that were so cheap the color from the book came off onto my hands. I put one of those stretchy fabric book covers on it .

Fara- thats not true. I always take the dust jacket off to check the spine of books.  I am sure alot of others do as well. If a dust jacket is taped on then I will cut the tape and check it. .

And yes some print colors do just seem to flake off if left in certain conditions.. cheap methods of printing.

I'm not sure how that would make a difference Fara. If the book is unpostable its unpostable, how would the fact that someone might have been able to hide it change that?

Mike, even if it was a cookbook you would mark it RWAP because the cookbook exception requires them to contact you and have your acceptance to the damage prior to mailing it.

No guys I am not saying it changes the condition of the book ;;only that many people don't take the dust jacket off to check the book--nothing else implied or intended--no tone just an observation. edit for spelling

To be honest, I share some of your opinions that a few grease marks are no big deal. But since the site implies that it is kind of a deal, then I don't want to run the risk of upsetting a member by reposting it.

Regarding the dust jacket query. I used to be a reader who never checked under the dj until I was approached on a different site that a book I sent was filthy under the dj. I resolved the situation since I had no proof as to whether the claim was truth or fib. I now check under the dj all the time.

I learn so much here on the forums; from now on I will look under the dust jackets.