Stripped Book

[peaceseeker24]

Hi everyone! I just have a question. I purchased a book at a bookstore. And I just recently read this note on the book (days after I bought the book):

"The sale of this book without its cover is unauthorized. If you purchased this
book without a cover, you should be aware that it was reported to the publisher as "unsold and destroyed." Neither the author nor the publisher has received payment for the sale of this "stripped book."

The book I purchased did not have a cover (plastic cover enclosing the book). Now, I'm thinking that the book was sold to me 'unauthorized'. It may be illegal on the part of the seller. That, I'm uncertain. But, how about on the part of the buyer? I purchased the book with a good and innocent intention, and paid the right price for it. I'm just uncertain and doubtful if it is right for
me to acquire or possess the book. Is it right for me to continue reading/using the book assuming that it was sold to me illegally?

I don't know but I often encounter 'small' problems similar to that. Should I just ignore those things or should I stop to still consider if it is right or wrong?

 

[Bananagator]

Did you buy it from a bookstore like Barnes and Noble or Borders? Or was it some shady little shack that sells a bunch of random things? Orrrr was it a garage sale type thing?

If it was a chain store thing, I would probably take it back. But I feel like this wasn't the case because they would've noticed and not sold it to you

If it was a seedy looking place that sells a bunch of stuff, it was probably stolen.

If it was a garage sale, it could go either way. There's a chance it could've been stolen - or the cover just fell off..... How old is the book/ what condition is the binding in?


I've read that little message on some of my books too and I've always wondered exactly how that works out. Do they mean purchase it from a legitimate store without binding? What if you buy it from another person who paid for the book and the cover just got old? It's kind of hard to tell.

You didn't steal the book so you're not at fault here. But if just knowing the book could've been stolen really bugs you, I'd get rid of it.
It does seem slightly suspicious

 

[heirmiles]

Usually being a "stripped book" means that the "glued or bound" cover has been removed, and it does not refer to a "dust jacket" (probably what you are referring to as the 'plastic' cover). I have purchased many books over the years second hand, and have steered away from volumes that no longer have any covers. However, the years have not been kind to some of the books I've purchased, and their covers have been torn off. I usually (with paperbacks) simply put the cover in between the pages of the book, though others are long gone (I moved many times when I was younger).

Ofcourse nowadays there are other issues involved with digital copies of books, and filesharing of these copies. When is a person "borrowing" a digital copy from a friend or library, as with a normal book, and when does this become unauthorized use? Sometimes simply having the printed copy is so much easier, and less 'ethically ambiguous'.