When you see a small triangle of paper missing from the corner of a book’s dust jacket, that’s called a price-clipped corner. A small cut on the book signifies its previous higher price than the current selling price. Retailers commonly use this tactic to eliminate older inventory or when they obtain discounted book shipments.
A price-clipped corner refers to cutting off a triangular or V-shaped piece of paper from the corner of the book’s dust jacket. By doing so, booksellers effectively lower the selling price.
Retailers sometimes remove a portion of the book’s corner to signify its reduced price and no longer being sold at total retail value. This practice is common for remaindered (unsold copies returned by publishers) or clearance items as retailers make room for new inventory.
An effective strategy to make a book more enticing for potential buyers is to eliminate any previous owner’s name or additional markings from the dust jacket by employing price-clipping.
Price-clipping poses a common challenge in the retail industry and can be hard to identify. Nevertheless, retailers can take preventive measures such as utilizing security cameras and monitoring employees’ behavior.
In assessing the worth of a collectible book, price-clipped corners play a vital role. They aid in identifying first editions and contribute to the book’s overall value. Additionally, by examining the clipping style over time, these corners can serve as clues for dating purposes.