Can someone tell me exactly what this term means?  I just rec'd a hardcover book and upon opening the cover it is somewhat separated from the rest of the book and I can see mesh between the cover and the first page.  First time dealing with this so that's why I'm askin'.  The rest of the book seems ok so I don't know if I should mark this rec'd with a problem or just rec'd.

That is the same problem I was just asking about! Although I didn't think of the term cleaved.

What your describing sounds more like a loose hinge than a cleaved spine. With a cleaved spine its almost like a cracked spine where the book will lay flat opened to somewhere near the middle but the spine will be seperated so that you can see the binding inside. You usually get a cleaved spine in a PB.

Mine  is as you describe it, Manny--in a pb. Is this somethimg that can be reposted?

No cleaved is against posting guidelines. I honestly dont know about a loose hinge though.

Wasn't there pictures at some point posted by R&R showing the difference? Maybe they should post those pictures with the descriptions for all to see in the info center.

There was never one posted by them. They did come and say that a pic I posted was of a cleaved spine but made it very clear that it was only because they had just added that to the help center and that they wouldnt be checking pics all the time. I think they might have said they would maybe do a gallery but Ive never seen it.

I would not post or send a book like that.  It's obviously damaged.