Looks like one of those soft suede or leather bindings where the page block is heavy enough to crease the lower edge. I think they would usually be issued in a slipcase.

If all you want is a reading copy just make sure the text is intact. I once gave a couple of hundred 'vintage' SF paperbacks to a young lad trying to start up a shop. He proceeded to chuck out any with creases on the covers. Couldn't understand when I told him the useful bit was nothing to do with the cover, and that he might never see copies of those titles again as they were all out of print. I didn't give him any more.

If you fancy this as a collectable, well, maybe not. I do think it should have a slipcase, but I could be wrong.

Just ask if the binding is tight, any pages loose, foxing, staining, etc.?

. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Whomever you may murder, there's no police like Holmes.
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