| ~ A
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~ B
~ |
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ads, advts, adverts
Advertisements placed in the binding of the book.
Advanced Copy
A copy for booksellers and reviewers, either bound in
paperwraps or a trade edition with a review slip laid
in.
aeg
See All Edges Gilt.
al
See Autographed Letter.
All Edges Gilt
The top, fore-edge, and foot of the book are colored in
gold.
als
See Autographed Letter, Signed.
ams
See Autographed Manuscript, Signed.
-ana
A suffix denoting a collection of sayings, anecdotes, or
other material regarding a person or subject, such as
Americana or Hemingwayana.
Antiquarian Books
A loose term implying collectible books rather than used
books. Refers to old, rare, and out-of-print/used books.
ARC
Advanced Reading Copy. See Advanced Copy.
As Issued
A term indicating a given book is in the original
condition as published.
Association Copy
A book or pamphlet that has some indication of having
belonged to the author or someone closely associated
with the author.
As Usual
A favorite term to describe defects that probably occur
only on copies of the book the particular dealer
handles, such as "lacks endpapers, as usual."
Autographed Letter
A handwritten letter.
Autographed Letter, Signed
A handwritten letter signed by the writer.
Autographed Manuscript, Signed
A manuscript all in the author's hand
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Backstrip
The covering of the book's spine.
Bastard Title
See Front Matter and
Half Title.
bc, bce
See Book Club.
bd
See Bound.
bdg
See Binding.
bds
See Boards.
Binding
The cover of the book.
Binding Copy
A book that needs to be rebound and is worth rebinding.
Blind-Stamping
An impressed mark, decoration, or lettering, not colored
or gilded, usually appearing on the binding.
Block Books
Books made circa the mid 1400s in Germany and the
Netherlands in which pictures and explanatory text were
printed from woodblocks.
Blurb
A comment from a review (often by another author
praising the particular book) printed on the dust jacket
or covers of a proof copy, or on a wraparound band.
Boards
The stiff binding material for most modern books.
bomc
Book-of-the-Month Club. See Book Club.
Book Block
The entire book sewn together before it is bound.
Book Club
Edition of a book printed especially for a book club.
All books are of a uniform size and usually produced
with cheaper materials.
Book Label
A label indicating the ownership of a book. Generally
smaller than a bookplate.
Bookplate
A pasted-in sign of ownership.
Bound
A book with a cover of any type, or a periodical that
has a cover other than its published wraps.
Breaker
A person who breaks up books to sell the plates
individually, or the book itself when the covers are so
bad that it either has to be rebound or broken up.
Broadside
A single sheet of paper, usually printed on one side
only.
b/w
Black-and-white illustrations, photographs, et cetera.
Backstrip
The covering of the book's spine.
Bastard Title
See Front Matter and Half Title.
bc, bce
See Book Club.
bd
See Bound.
bdg
See Binding.
bds
See Boards.
Binding
The cover of the book.
Binding Copy
A book that needs to be rebound and is worth rebinding.
Blind-Stamping
An impressed mark, decoration, or lettering, not colored
or gilded, usually appearing on the binding.
Block Books
Books made circa the mid 1400s in Germany and the
Netherlands in which pictures and explanatory text were
printed from woodblocks.
Blurb
A comment from a review (often by another author
praising the particular book) printed on the dust jacket
or covers of a proof copy, or on a wraparound band.
Boards
The stiff binding material for most modern books.
bomc
Book-of-the-Month Club. See Book Club.
Book Block
The entire book sewn together before it is bound.
Book Club
Edition of a book printed especially for a book club.
All books are of a uniform size and usually produced
with cheaper materials.
Book Label
A label indicating the ownership of a book. Generally
smaller than a bookplate.
Bookplate
A pasted-in sign of ownership.
Bound
A book with a cover of any type, or a periodical that
has a cover other than its published wraps.
Breaker
A person who breaks up books to sell the plates
individually, or the book itself when the covers are so
bad that it either has to be rebound or broken up.
Broadside
A single sheet of paper, usually printed on one side
only.
b/w
Black-and-white illustrations, photographs, et cetera.
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|
~C ~ |
~ D ~ |
Cancel
A tipped-in (pasted in) page that replaces a page
removed after a book has been bound.
Case-Bound
The book is hardbound, as opposed to a paperback.
Chapbook
A cheaply printed book of the kind sold by street
vendors in the 18th and 19th centuries.
Chipped
Used to describe where small cover pieces are missing or
where fraying has occurred on a dust jacket or the edge
of a paperback.
cl
See Cloth.
Cloth
A clothbound book. The covering can be linen, buckram,
or another textile.
Cocked Spine.
Refers to a spine that is angled so that the boards will
not line up evenly with each other.
Collation
Technically, the examination and notation of the
physical makeup of a book. After the presence of every
leaf or page originally in the volume when issued is
verified, a book may be collated as complete.
Colophon
An identifying inscription or emblem from the printer or
publisher appearing at the end of a book.
Condition
Condition of a book is usually in the form of VG/VG
or VG/--, for example. The first part describes the
condition of the book, the second indicates the
condition of the dust jacket. A "/--" usually means
that the dust jacket is not available.
As New
To be used only when the book is in the same
immaculate condition in which it was published. There
can be no defects, no missing pages, no library
stamps, and so on, and the dust jacket (if it was
issued with one) must be perfect, without any tears.
Fine (F or FN)
Approaches the condition of As New, but without being
crisp. For the use of the term "Fine," there must also
be no defects, and if the jacket has a small tear or
other defect, or looks worn, this should be noted.
Very Good (VG)
Describes a book that does show some small signs of
wear -- but no tears -- on either binding or paper.
Any defects must be noted.
Good (G)
Describes the average used worn book that has all
pages or leaves present. Any defects must be noted.
Fair
Worn book that has complete text pages (including
those with maps or plates) but may lack endpapers,
half-title, et cetera (which must be noted). Binding,
jacket (if any), et cetera may also be worn. All
defects must be noted.
Poor
Describes a book that is so worn that its only merit
is as a reading copy, because it does have the
complete text, which must be legible. Any missing maps
or plates should still be noted. This copy may be
soiled, scuffed, stained, or spotted and may have
loose joints, hinges, pages, and so on. These terms
may be arbitrary, but whatever terms are employed,
they may be useless or misleading unless both buyer
and seller agree on what they mean in actually
describing the book.
Conjugate Leaf
The unsevered second half of a printed page.
Contemporary
Refers to bindings and hand-colored plates (generally of
the period when the book was published) and author
inscription (dated the year of publication).
Covers
The binding of the book, most particularly the front and
back panels of the book.
Covers Bound-In
The original cloth covers, usually including the spine,
bound into the book when a new binding is made. Normally
they are mounted as pages at the end of the book. Also
refers to the covers of books originally issued in
boards or paper wrappers, but in these cases the covers
are usually bound in their proper positions.
Cut
Many modern books are smooth-trimmed after binding so
that all edges are even, or flush. This is described as
having been "cut."
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dec, decor
Decorated. Often refers to a binding, as in "dec. cl."
Deckle Edges
Another term for uncut or untrimmed edges.
Dedication Copy
The copy of the book inscribed by the author to the
person to whom the book is dedicated.
Device
A printer's ornament. Also an insignia that is the
publisher's identifying mark.
Disbound
This term refers to a book or pamphlet, once bound, from
which the binding has been removed.
dj
See Dust Jacket.
Dos-a-Dos
Two separate books bound together so that each cover
represents the cover for a different title. The Ace paperbacks and many science
fiction books were issued this way.
Dummy
A mock-up of the book, used by salesmen in the late 19th and
early 20th century to show prospective buyers what the book would look like. It
usually had a title page, 10 or 20 pages of text, and then blank pages to fill
out the rest of the binding.
Duodecimo (12mo)
A book approximately 7 to 8 inches tall.
Dust Jacket
A term synonymous with "dust wrapper," indicating the
usually decorative paper wrapper placed around a book to protect the binding.
Dust Wrapper
See Dust Jacket.
dw
Dust Wrapper. See Dust Jacket.
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| ~ E
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~ F
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ed
See Edited, Edition.
Edges
The outer surfaces of the leaves of a book.
Edited
Prepared for publication.
Edition
All the copies of a book printed from the same plates or
typesetting.
8vo
See Octavo.
Elephant Folio
A book about 23 inches tall.
Endpapers
The sheets of paper pasted onto the inner covers,
joining the book block to the covers. One side of the
sheet is pasted to the inside cover, the other is left
free.
ep
See Endpapers.
Errata
Mistakes or errors. Generally encountered in the term
"errata slip," a small sheet of paper laid into a book
by a publisher who has discovered errors prior to
publication.
ex
see Example.
Example
A particular copy of an edition.
Ex-Lib
See Ex-Library.
Ex-Library
A term used to indicate that a book was once in a
library.
Ex-Libris
A bookplate printed with the owner's name or initials.
Extra Illustrated
A copy of a book into which additional illustrations
have been bound.
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F
See Condition: Fine.
F, FF, fol
See Folio.
ffep
The endpaper that is not attached to the inside front
cover. See Endpapers. First and Second Printing Before
Publication This indicates that the publisher was
successful in promoting the book and had more orders
before the actual publication date than the first
printing quantity would cover, therefore a second
printing was ordered. Not a first edition.
First Edition
Generally used by book dealers and collectors to mean
the first appearance of a work in book or pamphlet form,
in its first printing.
First Separate Edition
The first appearance as a complete book or pamphlet of a
work that has previously appeared as part of another
book.
First Thus
Means not a first edition, but that something is new. It
may be revised, have a new introduction by the author or
someone else, or be the first publication in paperback
form or the first by another publisher.
First Trade Edition
The edition produced for general commercial sale, as
distinguished from a limited edition.
Flyleaf
A blank leaf, sometimes more than one, following the
front free endpaper, or at the end of a book where there
is not sufficient text to fill out the last few pages.
Fly Title
See Half Title.
Folio
Has several meanings: (1) a leaf numbered on the front;
(2) the numeral itself; or (3) a folio-size book. See
Book Sizes.
Fore-edge Painting
The front page edges of the book are bent back to expose
a greater area and a watercolor painting is applied to
this surface. After completion the book is closed and
the painting cannot be seen. The opposite is also true.
The painting is done on the edge of the pages so it can
be seen when the book is closed but is not discernible
when the book is open.
4to
See Quarto.
Foxed
See Foxing.
Foxing
Brown spotting of the paper caused by a chemical
reaction, generally found in 19th-century books,
particularly in steel engravings of the period.
Free Endpaper
See Endpapers.
Frontis
See Frontispiece.
Frontispiece
An illustration at the beginning of a book, usually
facing the title page.
Front Matter
The pages preceding the text of a book, in the following
order:
- bastard title or fly title
- frontispiece
- title page
- copyright page
- dedication
- preface or forward
- table of contents
- list of illustrations
- introduction
- acknowledgments
- half title
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| ~ G
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~ H
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G
See Condition: Good.
Galleys
Sometimes called galley proofs or loose galleys to
distinguish them from bound galleys. Long sheets of
paper bearing the first trial impression of the type.
Gathering
A group of sheets folded together for sewing or gluing
into the binding.
ge
See Gilt Edges.
Gilt Edges
The page edges have been trimmed smooth, and gilt, or
gold, has been applied. The abbreviation "ge" means gilt
edges; "aeg" means all edges gilt; "gt" means gilt top;
"teg" means top edge gilt.
Glassine
A transparent paper dust jacket.
gt
See Gilt Edges. Top |
Half Cloth
Papercover boards with the spine bound in cloth.
Half Leather
A term indicating that the spine and the corners of a
book are bound in leather, while the rest of the binding
may be cloth or paper. Also see Quarter Leather.
Half Title
The page carrying nothing but the title of the book,
usually preceding the title page.
Headband
A decorative cloth band, sometimes colored or
multicolored, appearing inside the backstrip at the top
(and sometimes bottom) of the spine of a book.
Hinge
The joint (either outer or inner) of the binding of a
book -- the part that bends when the book is opened.
Holograph
A term indicating the handwriting of the author.
Hors Texte, Versos Blank (hvtb)
"Hors texte" is French for "outside of the text," and
the term usually refers to plates without printing on
the reverse sides. The plates may be tipped in to paper
of a different stock from that of the text.
hvtb
See Hors Texte, Versos Blank.
Hypermodern
Collected first editions published within the last ten
years or so. Most were published so recently that there
is no track record on author or book.
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| ~ I
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~ J
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I
See Index.
Ill, Ills, Illus.
See Illustrated.
Illum
Refers to polychrome illustrations. It usually means an
illuminated manuscript.
Illustrated
Containing Illustrations.
Illustration
A design, picture, plate, plan, diagram, chart, or map
printed within the text.
Impression
A much-misused term, but one that, when accurately
employed, means the copies printed during any given
pressrun.
Imprint
A term that can refer either to the place of publication
or to the publisher.
Incunabula
Books, pamphlets, calendars, and indulgences printed
before 1501.
Index
An alphabetical listing of names or topics mentioned in
the book, with their page numbers. For serials and
journals, the index is usually published after the
volume is completed and is usually found in the last
issue.
India Paper
An extremely thin yet relatively opaque paper used to
help reduce the bulk of what would otherwise be a book
of unwieldy size.
insc
See Inscribed.
Inscribed
Usually indicates a book signed by the author, either
with an inscription to a specific person or bearing some
brief notation along with his signature.
Integral
A leaf or page is said to be integral when it is one
that was sewn and bound into a book during its
manufacture.
Interleaved
When blank leaves alternate with the printed leaves, a
book is said to be interleaved.
Issue
Synonymous with "state," referring to the priority of
copies within the first edition.
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Jacket
The printed or unprinted cover, usually paper, placed
around the bound book. Sometimes called dust jacket (dj),
dust wrapper (dw), dust cover, or book jacket.
Japan Vellum
A smooth, glossy paper made in imitation of vellum,
generally a light tan color.
Juveniles
Books originally or primarily written to be read by (or
to) children.
Juvenilia
Work written when an author was extremely young, often
as a child.
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| ~ L
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~ M
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l, ll
See Leaf.
Laid In
A letter or other sheet(s) inserted but not glued into a
book.
Laid Paper
A handmade paper showing parallel lines of the
papermaking frame, visible when held up to the light.
Large Print
A book that is made with large type for the visually
impaired.
Leaf
A single sheet in a book; each leaf contains two printed
pages, one on each side.
Limited Edition
Any book whose publication is deliberately restricted to
a comparatively small number of copies, usually numbered
and often signed by the author and/or illustrator.
Limp
An adjective describing a flexible binding in suede or
imitation leather such as that used on the early titles
of the Modern Library.
lp
Large-paper edition.
Ltd
See Limited Edition.
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Made-Up Copy
A copy of a book whose parts have been assembled from one or more defective
copies.
Marbled
Paper decorated with an imitation marble pattern.
Mint Copy
An absolutely perfect copy, as perfect as the day it was issued.
Misbound
Pages or signatures sewn together in an improper order.
Modern Firsts
All books that were published in this century.
Monograph
A work, generally short, dealing with a single subject and usually issued in
pamphlet form.
Morocco
A type of leather made from goatskin, especially suitable for book bindings
because of its durability and beauty.
ms, mss
Manuscript.
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| ~ N
~ |
~
O ~ |
nd
See No Date.
nf
Near Fine condition. See Condition: Fine.
No, Nos, #
See Number.
No Date
No date of publication mentioned within the book.
No Place
No place of publication mentioned within the book.
np
See No Place.
Number
An issue of a periodical.
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Obverse
The right-hand page of a book, more commonly called the
recto.
Octavo (8vo)
A book of about 5 inches wide and 8 inches tall to about
6 by 9 inches. Octavo is the most common size for
current hardcover books. To make octavo books, each
sheet of paper is folded to make eight leaves (16
pages).
Offprint
A separate printing of a section of a larger
publication.
Offset
The transfer of ink from one page to another, as either
a printed page or an engraving.
op
Out-of-Print.
orig
Original, as in original binding.
Out-of-Print
A book no longer being printed.
Out of Series
Refers to overruns or extra copies of limited editions.
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| ~ P
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~ Q
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Pamphlet
A small separate work issued in paperwraps.
pb, ppr
See Paperback.
Paperback
Books in paperwraps published since the 1930s, although
it can describe any book with a paper cover.
Paperback Grading
A letter grade system is sometimes used for describing
the condition of a paperback:
- "A" grade. Basically an unread book. No bookstore
stamps on the edges, inside the front cover, and so
on. The book is as close to perfect as possible. These
are typically very difficult to find for older books
written in the 1980s and near impossible for those in
the 1970s and earlier.
- "B" grade. Given to a book that is slightly
creased in the spine. Might have name, initials, light
stamp in the book.
- "C" grade. This means that there are creases in
the spine and maybe on the tips of the cover.
Basically it is a reader's copy only.
Paper Boards
Stiff cardboard covered in paper.
Parts
The practice of publishing novels in separate monthly
installments in magazine format.
Paste-Down
The portion of the endpaper pasted to the inner cover of
a book.
pc
See Price-Clipped.
Perfect binding
Used for paperback books, trade paperbacks, and
magazines that have too many pages to be stapled. The
page edges are glued together, then placed in the
covers. This is a less expensive process than
traditional bookbinding and stapling.
Pictorial
Describes a book with a picture on the cover.
Pirated Edition
Any edition of a work issued without permission of the
author and without payment of royalties to the author or
copyright holder.
pl, pls
See Plates.
Plates
Whole-page illustrations printed separately from the
text. Illustrations printed in the text pages are called
cuts.
Points
Distinguishing characteristics, usually errors, that
occur within a first edition and indicate the priority
of copies.
Prefs
See Preface.
Preface
Author's introductory statement.
Presentation Copy
A copy of a book actually given by the author to someone
of his acquaintance, usually with an inscription of some
sort testifying to this disposition.
Price-Clipped
The price has been clipped from the corner of the dust
jacket.
Printed Cover
Used to describe a dust wrapper or paper cover that is
only lettered.
Printing
Another word for "impression."
Private Press
A small press, often operated by one person, usually
devoted to the production of small quantities of finely
printed books.
Privately Printed
This term refers to a book or pamphlet whose printing
was paid for by an individual or a group, and that is
meant for private circulation, not public sale.
Proofs
Precede the published book. The normal course of events
would be galley proof, uncorrected bound proof, and
advance reading copy bound in paperwraps.
Prospectus
A publisher's announcement of a forthcoming book, set,
or periodical, with information about the price,
contributors or authors, date of publication, and
binding.
Provenance
The history of ownership or possession of a given book.
pub
Publisher or published.
Publication Date
The date a book is formally placed on sale.
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Quarter Leather
A book with a leather spine. Also see Half Leather.
Quarto (4to)
A book between octavo and folio in size; approximately
11 to 13 inches tall. To make a quarto, a sheet of paper
is folded twice, forming four leaves (eight pages).
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| ~ R
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~ S
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Rare
Implies the book is extremely scarce, perhaps turning up
only once every ten years or so.
Reading Copy
A copy of a book that is worn or used to such a degree
that it is not in good enough condition to be considered
collectible.
Rebacked
A book that has been repaired by getting a new spine and
mended hinges.
Recased
A book that has been glued back into its covers after
having been shaken loose.
Recto
The front side of a leaf in a bound book; in other
words, the right-hand page of an opened book. Also
called the "obverse."
Rejointed
Means the book has been repaired preserving the original
covers, including the spine.
rem
See Remainder.
Remainder
When a book has ceased to sell, a publisher may get rid
of his overstock by "remaindering" the title.
Remainder Marks
The publisher will mark the bottom edges of books sold
as remainders with a stamp, a black marker, or spray
paint, which speckles the bottom.
Reverse
The rear side of a leaf in a bound book; in other words,
the left-hand page of an opened book. Also called the
verso.
rfep
The endpaper that is not attached to the inside rear
cover. See Endpapers.
rm
See Remainder Marks.
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ser
See Series.
Series
A group of volumes with a common theme issued in
succession by a single publisher.
Sextodecimo (16mo)
A small book, approximately 4 inches wide and 6 inches
tall. To make it, each sheet of paper is folded four
times, forming 16 leaves (32 pages).
Shaken
An adjective describing a book whose pages are beginning
to come loose from the binding.
Signature
In bookmaking, this does not mean the author's name
written out in his hand. It refers rather to the group
of pages produced by folding a single printed sheet,
ready for sewing or gluing into a book.
16mo
See Sextodecimo.
Slipcase
A cardboard case covered in paper, cloth, or leather
that holds a book with only the spine exposed.
Spine
The book's backbone, where the signatures are gathered.
The spine is covered with the backstrip.
State
Closely allied to the definition of "issue." "State"
generally refers to a change other than a correction of
a misprint.
Stub
A narrow strip of paper usually remaining where a leaf
has been cut away.
Sunned
Faded from exposure to light or direct sunlight.
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| ~ T
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~ U~
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teg
See Top Edge Gilt or Gilt Edges.
Thousands
Some publishers in the 19th century added a notice on
the title page stating, for instance, "Eighth Thousand"
to indicate a later printing. These are not first
editions.
Three-Decker
A book in three volumes, almost exclusively used to
describe Victorian novels of the late 19th century.
Tipped-In
Means the plate, autograph, letter, photo, et cetera, is
actually attached to the book.
Tirage
French for "printing." Usually used for a limited
edition, often numbered and dated.
Title Page
The title page, near the beginning of the book, lists
the title and subtitle of the book, the authors,
editors, and/or contributors, the publisher or printer,
and sometimes the place and date of publication. The
title page information, not the half-title page or
covers, should be used for cataloguing.
Title Page Index
Used in describing periodicals, to indicate that the
title page and index are present. Without a title page
and index, the volume is incomplete.
tls
See Typed Letter Signed.
Top Edge Gilt
Usually abbreviated "teg," it means that the top edges
of the pages have been covered with gold leaf or gilt
material.
tp
See Title Page.
tpi
See Title Page Index.
Trade Edition
The regularly published edition. This term is used to
differentiate it from a limited signed edition of the
same book.
Trimmed
An adjective indicating that the pages have been cut
down to a size smaller than when originally issued.
12mo
See Duodecimo.
Typed Letter Signed
A typewritten letter signed by hand.
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Uncut
The pages of the completed book have not been shaved
down to a uniform surface.
Unopened
The leaves of the book are still joined at the folds,
not slit apart.
unpag
See Unpaginated.
Unpaginated
The pages are not numbered (although each signature may
be designated by letter).
Unsophisticated
Pure, genuine, unrestored, and if a book is so
described, it can mean trouble as far as condition is
concerned.
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| ~ V
~ |
~ W
~ |
Variant
A book that differs in one or more features from others
of the same impression, but a positive sequence has not
been established.
Vellum
A thin sheet of specially prepared skin of calf, lamb,
or kid used for writing or printing, or for the cover.
Verso
The second, or rear, side of a leaf in a book; in other
words, the left-hand page of an opened book. Also called
the reverse.
vol
The volume of the book.
VG
See Condition: Very Good.
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Waterstained
Discoloration and perhaps actual shrinking of the leaves
or binding.
wr, wrs
See Wrappers.
Wraparound Band
The band of printed paper the length of the dust jacket
of a book. Favorable reviews are printed on the
wraparound bands, which are put around some copies of
books. Obviously fragile, they are of interest to
collectors.
Wrappers
The outer covers of a paperbound book or pamphlet. Not
to be confused with "dust wrapper."
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| ~ Y
~ |
Yapped
Refers to the edges of the cover of a book bound in
paper or another soft material. These yapped edges are
not flush with the pages but extend beyond the edges of
the book and are fragile by nature.
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