I bought this used a while ago. I bought up to volume 8 used, and I think I bought volume 9 and onward new. I believe the ones with the book bands are the ones I bought new, but my memory is hazy, so I'm not sure. The pages of the earlier volumes are a bit yellowed, but the later ones are still white. I haven't read them much and won't be reading them anymore, so I'm putting them up for sale. Please comment if you have any questions.