Stripped book
Encyclopedia
A stripped book is a mass market paperback that has been stripped of its cover in order to be pulped and recycled as a result of lack of sales. The covers are returned to the publisher as evidence that the books have been destroyed and the books are discarded or recycled into paper or cardboard products.
However, many stripped books end up back on the marketplace, and are sold at places like flea markets. As a result, beginning in the 1980s, most publishers of mass market paperbacks insert a warning on the copyright page, often containing the note:
Hardcovers are usually disposed of as remaindered book
s rather than stripped books. A few hardcover titles, such as Angus Oblong
's Creepy Susie
, carry the above warning, though hardcover books are generally returned whole, not just the cover itself.
by ceasing to print more copies, but (for tax purposes) destroy any copies they cannot sell by the end of the fiscal year. Bookstores strip the front covers from paperbacks that do not sell, and return them to the publisher as evidence they have been destroyed rather than sold. The books are then burned or recycled
into paper or cardboard products.
This system of pulping paperback books evolved from the rise of the mass market distribution system following World War II
when paper
was cheaper than the cost of transport. Coverless paperbacks are often found for sale in thrift stores, charity libraries (in hospitals, for instance), flea market
s, and the like; sometimes even in used bookstores. In the 1990s, publishers began an information campaign to alert book buyers to the fact that these books have been reported as destroyed, to mixed results. Many paperbacks from this period contain a warning notice in the indicia
, to the effect that "If you purchased this book without a cover, it has been reported to the publisher as 'unsold and destroyed', and neither author nor publisher have received payment for this book."
Unsold hardbacks or trade paperbacks are more commonly remaindered
(sold off at reduced prices). Remaindered books that still fail to sell may then be pulped.
The practice of pulping, as opposed to remaindering, has the long term effect of diminishing the number of copies of a given print run or edition and of making the surviving copies more valuable in the book collecting
market.
However, many stripped books end up back on the marketplace, and are sold at places like flea markets. As a result, beginning in the 1980s, most publishers of mass market paperbacks insert a warning on the copyright page, often containing the note:
- If you purchased this book without a cover you should be aware that this book is stolen property. It was reported as "unsold and destroyed" to the publisher and neither the author nor the publisher has received any payment for this "stripped book."
Hardcovers are usually disposed of as remaindered book
Remaindered book
Remaindered books are books that are no longer selling well and whose remaining unsold copies are being liquidated by the publisher at greatly reduced prices...
s rather than stripped books. A few hardcover titles, such as Angus Oblong
Angus Oblong
Angus Oblong is the pen name of an American writer and illustrator best known as the author of Creepy Susie and 13 Other Tragic Tales for Troubled Children and the 2001 television series it spawned, The Oblongs...
's Creepy Susie
Creepy Susie and 13 Other Tragic Tales for Troubled Children
Creepy Susie and 13 Other Tragic Tales for Troubled Children is a collection of illustrated short stories written by Angus Oblong. The stories mostly feature children and adolescents, although one story is about a dog. Several of the characters were eventually adapted for use in the animated...
, carry the above warning, though hardcover books are generally returned whole, not just the cover itself.
Book pulping
A more specialized use of the term "pulping" is to refer to the system of destroying unsold books (usually but not always mass market paperbacks). If a book is not selling well, the publisher may not only allow it to go out of printOut-of-print book
An out-of-print book is a book that is no longer being published. Out-of-print books are often rare, and may be difficult to acquire.A publisher will usually create a print run of a fixed number of copies of a new book. These books can be ordered in bulk by booksellers, and when all the...
by ceasing to print more copies, but (for tax purposes) destroy any copies they cannot sell by the end of the fiscal year. Bookstores strip the front covers from paperbacks that do not sell, and return them to the publisher as evidence they have been destroyed rather than sold. The books are then burned or recycled
Paper recycling
Paper recycling is the process of recovering waste paper and remaking it into new paper products. There are three categories of paper that can be used as feedstocks for making recycled paper: mill broke, pre-consumer waste, and post-consumer waste. Mill broke is paper trimmings and other paper...
into paper or cardboard products.
This system of pulping paperback books evolved from the rise of the mass market distribution system following World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
when paper
Paper
Paper is a thin material mainly used for writing upon, printing upon, drawing or for packaging. It is produced by pressing together moist fibers, typically cellulose pulp derived from wood, rags or grasses, and drying them into flexible sheets....
was cheaper than the cost of transport. Coverless paperbacks are often found for sale in thrift stores, charity libraries (in hospitals, for instance), flea market
Flea market
A flea market or swap meet is a type of bazaar where inexpensive or secondhand goods are sold or bartered. It may be indoors, such as in a warehouse or school gymnasium; or it may be outdoors, such as in a field or under a tent...
s, and the like; sometimes even in used bookstores. In the 1990s, publishers began an information campaign to alert book buyers to the fact that these books have been reported as destroyed, to mixed results. Many paperbacks from this period contain a warning notice in the indicia
Indicia (publishing)
Indicia is the plural of the Latin word indicium, meaning distinguishing marks.In magazine publishing, indicia refers to a piece of text traditionally appearing on the first recto page after the cover, which usually contains the official name of the publication, its publication date, information...
, to the effect that "If you purchased this book without a cover, it has been reported to the publisher as 'unsold and destroyed', and neither author nor publisher have received payment for this book."
Unsold hardbacks or trade paperbacks are more commonly remaindered
Remaindered book
Remaindered books are books that are no longer selling well and whose remaining unsold copies are being liquidated by the publisher at greatly reduced prices...
(sold off at reduced prices). Remaindered books that still fail to sell may then be pulped.
The practice of pulping, as opposed to remaindering, has the long term effect of diminishing the number of copies of a given print run or edition and of making the surviving copies more valuable in the book collecting
Book collecting
Book collecting is the collecting of books, including seeking, locating, acquiring, organizing, cataloging, displaying, storing, and maintaining whatever books are of interest to a given individual collector. The love of books is bibliophilia, and someone who loves to read, admire, and collect...
market.