So, up until now, I've been pretty lucky in getting books from used book stores that don't have stamps, but have recently started hitting a new store that stamps all of their books. 

According to what I can find in the help docs:

• Decirculated library books may have various markings and/or stamps inside or outside or on the page edges of the book; this is OKAY.  These may not obscure text.
• BookCrossing books may have stickers or stamps or markings on the outside or inside covers or page edges of the book; this is OKAY. These may not obscure text.

The stamps are generally on the first page which does *technically* have text but it is generally just a review or preview excerpt from the book.  My question is, would a stamp over the text on that page be considered obscuring and making the item unpostable or is text considered to be the body of the book itself after the intro pages?

Thanks for any insights.

While I'm not an expert, IMO stamps over that text (as you described) would not make the book unpostable.  I have sent and received many such books myself with no problems.  As long as the stamp is not obscuring any of the actual story text, I think it is still postable.

It is postable.

The term "text pages" is slightly ambiguous .... I consider "text pages" to be any content that is uniquely authored for that book. so, YES to story pages, table of contents, map page, preface, index, notes, bibliography, etc. Basically anything that is unique content.

NO to review pages, book offer pages,  title / copyright page, blank pages, book subscription pages in the center of the book, etc.

I can't wait to see wat you add to your shelf. Is this book store in Raligh? Do they have a web site? I am always looking for used boo stores and I am in Va , NC is not that far away. There are a couple of good used bookstores  on the way to Manteo, if you ever get that way.

I actually hit a store in Atlanta on my travels down to Mobile.  Book Nook there has 2 full facings of paranormal romance books and I really needed the therapy shopping as I've lost 2 friends this past week.

In Raleigh, Ed McKay's has a pretty awesome selection and they don't stamp.  We also have a pretty awesome library sale in Durham twice a year.

There was a pretty good bookstore in Richmond the last time I was there.  Totally can't remember the name of it but it was in a shopping plaza I think next to a Chinese Restaurant and there was a Ruby Tuesday's in the parking lot nearby.

What Sara said.  In general usage around here, 'text' usually refers to the actual story and not the information pages.  Your book is postable.

I just had this question come up as a TG and I told the member it fell in the postable category. The only way this would not is if the requestor had a condition against that.