Onverscheurd

Onverscheurd is a Dutch adjective meaning not torn or not broken. It is used to describe physical objects that retain their original, undamaged form, with edges intact and no pieces missing. The term is common in archival, bibliographic, and collecting contexts to indicate a preserved state close to pristine.

Derivation: on- as a negation prefix and verscheurd, the past participle of verscheuren meaning to tear apart. The compound thus literally means not torn.

In archives and libraries, objects described as onverscheurd are typically manuscripts, maps, books, or photographs whose margins and pages are intact and show no tearing or significant damage. In philately and numismatics, the adjective is used to refer to stamps or notes that have not been separated from a sheet or that show no tears around perforations, indicating mint or preserved condition. In other areas of collecting, paintings, prints, and posters may be described as onverscheurd when their edges remain untouched.

Because the term signals a high level of preservation, handling of onverscheurd items requires care to avoid creating tears or creases. Descriptions in catalogs or auction catalogs may pair onverscheurd with other terms such as undamaged or with full margins to convey condition.

The term is primarily used in Dutch-language catalogs and inventories and may be found in museums, archives, libraries, and private collections.