What is the correct way to handle this?  I ordered a book on 4-2. It ways marked mailed on 4-5 . Electronic postage label says mailed 4-7.  Not scanned in at origination PO until 4-29.  PBS marked it lost on 5-1.  Received on 5-2, but ----- it is an unpostable. The spine is almost completely seperated from the cover.  THe only thing holding the book is the 2 pages glued to the cover on the front & back.  So how do I mark this please?

You need to mark the book received.  If it is a RWAP (received with a problem) mark it as such.

Is this a hardcover?  Could it be a hollow (or case) binding?

http://cool.conservation-us.org/don/dt/dt1763.html

http://www.rockpicklepublishing.com/essays/bookbinding.html

There are some better pictures/descriptions out there.  I'll go hunt.

The link below shows a drawing comparing the tight and hollow back.

http://cool.conservation-us.org/byorg/abbey/an/an15/an15-6/an15-609.html

ETA:  My go-to picture isn't loading, but figures 7, 8 & 10 are below are examples

http://cool.conservation-us.org/coolaic/sg/bpg/annual/v15/bp15-16.html

You would need to go by the post date on the package - the electronic postage. Scans do not represent postmarks. So you would need to go into your Transaction Archive and mark it received.

I am with NewRuth on the binding. Without seeing what you have, your description does not necessarily describe a damaged book. Many hard covers I see are really only attached by those first and last pages being glued to the cover with the center flexing inside unattached to the cover .

I've had some paperback computer books with that same type of binding (don't know if they call it the same thing when it is a paperback).

It is a higher quality binding.

The book has that type of binding, but it is pulled away from the "tape".  I'm trying to load a picture of it now, but not having much luck yet.

Thanks for the replies.