The Cold War Swap

American book-club copies circulate. Tells: a blind stamp impressed on the rear board (Book-of-the-Month Club used a dot, circle, or square, sometimes coloured), no price at the jacket flap on an unclipped jacket, lighter bulk, and cheaper board stock. If the flap corner is clipped, the rear-board blind stamp is the decider — an unpriced jacket alone cannot establish a trade first.