The PPrize Collection Grading System

When asked to grade collections, PPrize.com grades collections by the a combination of number and letter. The number provides a general sense of how many books are in the collection, and the letter is the grade that describes the presence and condition of the dust jackets and slipcases for the books that are present in the collection. The grading system is intended as a shorthand method to communicate how complete a Pulitzer collection is.

Each book in the collection is expected to be in collectible condition that takes into account the age and rarity of the title. Our grading sytem does not attempt to grade the condition of each book in detail. That type of evaluation should performed separately by listing each book and detailing all condition points.

Book Gradings
10 = A complete collection of first trade edition Pulitzer Prize winning fiction books in collectible condition. A plus designation is given if a significant portion of the books are signed or limited numbered editions. A minus designation is given if one or two of the books are second printings, second issue or second state.

9 = Less that complete collection of first editions. At least 90% of the winning books are present as at least first trade editions in collectible condition. A plus designation is given if the missing books are represented by very early printings of the first editions, or if there are a significant amount of signed books.

8 = Less that complete collection of first editions. At least 80% of the winning books are present as at least first trade editions in collectible condition. A plus designation is given if the missing books are represented by very early printings of the first editions, or if there are a significant amount of signed books.

7 = Less that complete collection of first editions. At least 70% of the winning books are present as at least first trade editions in collectible condition. A plus designation is given if the missing books are represented by very early printings of the first editions, or if there are a significant amount of signed books.

6 = Less that complete collection of first editions. At least 60% of the winning books are present as at least first trade editions in collectible condition. A plus designation is given if the missing books are represented by very early printings of the first editions, or if there are a significant amount of signed books.

5 = Less that 60% of the winning books are present as first trade editions.


Dust Jacket Gradings
A = All dust jackets are first issue. Slipcases from special editions are present if issued with them. All are in collectible condition. A plus designation is given if the dust jackets and slip cases are all in exceptional condition. A minus designation is given if a few dust jackets are second state or a couple of slipcases are missing.

B = At least 90% of the dust jackets and slipcases for the books in the collection are first issue in collectible condition, and the missing dust jackets are filled by at least facsimile dust jackets. A plus designation is given if the missing dust jackets are represented by either second state or very early printings of the first editions. A minus designation is given if the missing dust jackets have neither early printing dust jackets nor facsimile dust jackets.

C = At least 80% of the books in the collection have first issue dust jackets and publisher issued slip cases for special editions. These should be in collectible condition. A plus designation is given if the missing dust jackets are represented by either second state or very early printings of the first editions. A minus designation is given if the missing dust jackets have neither early printing dust jackets nor facsimile dust jackets.

D = Less than 80% of the books in the collection have first issue dust jackets and publisher issued slip cases for special editions. These should be in collectible condition.







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