My book arrived in a vacuum sealed plastic bag. Firstly, there was no padding to protect the corners of the book from damage, so the package wasn't really a package. It was the book itself with a thin plastic skin on it which would only serve to protect it from water. Secondly, I needed to use scissors to get the plastic bag off of the book which is not something I want to be doing to a book that I haven't even opened yet. The book itself was in very good condition as described, but I think there was a high probability that it might not have arrived in good condition if it has been dropped or thrown into a bin or van, and I might have easily damaged it just trying to pry the plastic bag off it. I like the bookmark that came with it.