I have a hardcover copy of Mantis with a date of 1979 for sale. The book is still in good condition and it's Peter Fox. The pages are cream colored with no staining on them.  The book is tight to the spine and it's not splitting at all. There is no tearing or writing on the pages. There is some wear to the top and bottom of the spine, the edges of the book and the corners as well but not much at all. The corners of the book do bend in some. The covers are in good shape but they do have a few small marks on them. The dust jacket is in decent shape -- it does have some discoloration and minor tearing along the edges.  

Overall, it's still a good copy for anyone wanting this book.  Any questions feel free to e-mail me.