well bound - bright yellow not quite leatherette material- the best German-English dictionary of its size on the market. It is a very attractive book, masterfully typeset, small but readable. Its contents are identical to the larger-format "Standard" Langenscheidt. It has hardcovers, but it is smaller than the best paperback dictionaries (which are its competition) and no heavier. Of course, you will want to buy this dictionary for its contents. Not only does it cover a ---lot-- of words for its size, but the entries are clear, well-analyzed into parts, and to-the-point, with illustrative phrases where necessary.-Langenscheidt exemplary for (1) its small size but surprisingly full contents and excellent legibility, (2) reference purposes. Go with the Webster's if you want detailed information in a small dictionary rather than an excellent quick-reference tool.--easy to use but so comprehensive it would serve as an excellent reference for any level of comprehension between the two languages