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Dear John: I was wondering if the book was just signed or addressed to someone. I was also wondering about the description "remainder marked". Stephanie F. John Replies: Dear Stephanie: The signature is without inscription. A remainder mark is just that - a mark to the page edges of a book. It is an indication of where the book is in the publishing "production cycle." Long story short - booksellers receive books for the publisher but are able to return then if they go unsold. To keep track of those that have "left the building" the publishers mark the books that have been returned. Usually it is a small, black slash. Sometimes it is a stamp (like the Simon & Schuster "running man".) John Ask John at: [email protected] Read articles about book collecting Read John's answers to book collecting questions Receive our Book Collecting PDFs and newsletters Sign up for our Book Club Follow us on Twitter Follow us on Facebook Watch our Videos