|
Advance copy |
A copy of a book usually sent
to reviewers prior to publication, may be in a different
format and may or may not be bound |
|
Advance sheets |
The unbound sheets of a new
book, often galleys, distributed prior to publication |
|
Advertisements |
Many books & pamphlets,
especially of the 19th century contained ads, especially
ones advertising others books by the same publisher,often
located at the back of the volume, following the text
pages |
|
All published |
The book or set is complete
as is, and any additional parts or volumes were never
published |
|
Annotated |
Including critical and explanatory notes. |
|
Aquatint |
An etching method widely used in late-Eighteenth
and early-Nineteenth century illustrated books, these
were frequently colored by hand after printing. |
|
ARC |
Advanced Reading Copy |
|
As new |
see Condition |
|
Association copy |
A book or pamphlet that has
some indication of having belonged to the author or someone
closely associated with them. |
|
As usual |
A term used to describe normal
defects related to ex library books, i.e., endpapers removed,
pockets & library stamps. |
|
Authors edition |
Book authorized
by author, usually foreign editions, around the turn of
the last century when many titles were pirated or "unauthorized" |
|
Bastard title |
a page at the
beginning of a book containing only the title of the book |
|
bc, bce |
A book club edition. Books
printed for a book club. |
|
bds. |
boards |
|
Bevelled boards |
see bevelled edges |
|
Bevelled edges |
A binding technique
in which the edges of the boards of the book have been
cut to a slanted angle. Also known as bevelled boards |
|
Bibliography |
A list of works,
occasionally in great detail, on a given subject or by
a given author |
|
Biopredation |
An attack to books
by living matter, which may include insects or mildew |
|
Binding |
The
method of holding pages or sheets together; may be simply
stapled or sewn, or sewn and enclosed in wrappers, but
most often refers to a "hard" binding or covers.
This type of binding may be covered with cloth, various
leathers, or paper over boards or other more exotic materials.
The binding can be done by hand or by machine. The following
terms relate primarily to leather bindings |
|
Full binding |
Volume that is
entirely encased in leather calf, ie; sheep, morocco,
etc |
|
Three quarter binding |
Volume has leather spine and
corners which occupy approx. 3/4 of the space along top
edge of board (cover). The remainder of the board is covered
with marbled paper, plain paper, cloth, different leather,
etc |
|
Half binding |
The spine and
corner leather occupy only approx. 1/2 of top edge |
|
Quarter binding |
Usually lacks
leather corners and leather of the spine occupies only
approx. 1/4 of the top edge.Binding copy: a book lacking
the original binding or with a binding in poor condition,
i.e. a book in need of a new binding - can also be referred
to as a reading copy |
|
Blanks |
Refers to a blank page that
is left intentionally in the book. It can be located at
beginning of the book, at the end of a clearly marked
division, and/or at the end of book. Also known as blank
leaves or printer's blanks |
|
Blind |
(Stamped or Tooled)
Impressed into paper or binding with no color, leaving
an impression only |
|
Boards |
The covers of a hard bound
book; the boards are the stiff cardboard or paperboard
which is usually covered with cloth or leather; and when
covered with paper, the covers are properly referred to
as "boards". Many pre-1850 books were issued
by the publishers bound in boards (paper covered), allowing
for an inexpensive binding which could later be replaced
with leather by a hand book binder. Early (medieval) manuscript
volumes were often bound between two oak boards, hence
the probable origin of this term |
|
Book club edition |
Usually an inexpensive reprint
utilizing poor quality paper and binding and sold by subscription
to members of a book club; in general, of little interest
to book collectors and of low monetary value |
|
Book jacket |
The paper, often with illustrations
and information about the book and author, used as a protective
covering over the book; usually referred to as a "dust
jacket" or "dj", sometimes called a "dust
wrapper". Dust jacket art work is used to promote
and sell the book |
|
Book formats |
The
traditional terms in use for describing book formats
are derived from early printing methodology and the
size of early handmade sheets of paper. When two leaves
(four pages when printed on both sides) were printed
on a sheet so that it could be folded once, collated
with other folded sheets and bound, the format of the
volume was a "folio". When four leaves (eight
pages) were printed on the same size sheet, which would
later be folded twice, the format of the resultant volume
was a "quarto" (four leaves). The term "octavo"
relates to the sheet having eight leaves printed on
it. Today some booksellers are providing the height
of a book in inches or centimeters rather than using
these early terms which do not relate directly to the
sheet size or process used for printing today. The following
is offered as a guide to convert book formats to approximate
book sizes:
· Folio: more than 13 inches tall
· Quarto (4to): approx. 10 to 13 inches
tall, average 12 inches
· Octavo (8vo): approx. 8 to 10 inches
tall, average 9 inches
· Duodecimo (12mo): approx. 7 to 8 inches
tall, average 7.5 inches
· Sextodecimo (16mo): approx. 6 to 7
inches tall, average 6.5 inches
There are smaller and larger books, i.e. many miniatures
are 64mo, and most hard bound books are either octavo
or duodecimo in size |
|
Bookplate |
A label pasted to the inner
part of the book indicating ownership |
|
Booklet |
A small book,
often only a few pages long and mostly soft-covered |
|
Bookworm |
Any of a number of moth or
fly larvae which tunnel through the pages of books leaving
behind small channels, holes in individual leaves. Very
early books often have some evidence of bookworm damage |
|
Bright copy |
Refers to the condition of
a book; a surprisingly bright or fresh copy of an older
book. It is as new and clean as the day it was published |
|
Broadside |
A printing, often an official
announcement or poem or music, which occurs on a single
sheet of paper and only on one side; the verso (other
side) is blank. When printed on both sides, the sheet
becomes a "broadsheet" |
| Broadsheet |
A printing which
occurs on both sides of a single leaf (see also broadside) |
|
Browning |
The aging of a
book that creates a brown looking page. This process is
most noticeable in older books with some degree of acid
content within the book. This detracts from a books appearance
and value |
| Buckram |
A stiff, coarsely
woven, filled cloth used for less expensive, but stronger
wearing, cloth book binding material; often used for library
books |
|
Bumped |
Refers to the
condition of a book; it refers to worn, bent, or rounded
corners of the boards of a book |
|
b/w |
Black and white illustrations,
photographs, etc. |
|
Calf |
Book binding leather from
a calf hide or cattle hide; a commonly used material for
leather binding - see also morocco, sheep and vellum. |
|
Case |
The covers enclosing a book,
usually made of thick cardboard, or a specially made case
for a book |
|
Chapbook |
Small,
inexpensive books produced from the 17th century until
today, originally sold by "chapmen", peddlers,
and hawkers |
| Chipped |
Small pieces broken
off of a dust jacket or binding |
|
Chromolithography |
Color printing from multiple
impositions of lithographic stones or similar lithographic
printing surfaces. A process of illustration that reached
its zenith in the mid-Nineteenth century |
|
circa |
Refers to an approximate date
when actual date is unknown |
|
cl. |
cloth (clothbound) |
| Closed tear |
A tear with no
material missing |
|
Cloth |
Book binding material woven
from cotton, linen, wool or synthetic fibers |
|
Coated |
Paper is smooth and polished;
something has been applied to the surface to make it appear
glossy |
|
Cocked |
If, when looking down on the
head of a book, the corners are not square it is said
to be cocked or rolled. Also known as a spine slant or
squinting to the spine. |
|
Cockled |
Refers to the condition of
a book; the wrinkled, puckered, waving, or curling condition
of a page or of the boards of a book, which is caused
by non-uniform drying and shrinkage. |
|
Collate |
To verify completeness of
a book by examining it carefully (e.g.: all illustrative
plates are present, no pages to the book are missing,
etc) |
|
Collation |
Used in descriptive bibliography
as the term which describes the non-binding portion of
the book, verifying the proper sequence and completeness
of pages & their gatherings (signatures) |
|
Colophon |
A statement occurring at the
rear of a volume following the text, relating information
about the printing history and physical aspects of the
book; often includes name of printer, type of paper, typeface,
size of edition, date of printing, etc. Early books often
had a colophon instead of a title page imprint and modern
private press or other examples of fine printing often
use a colophon |
|
Compartments |
Ruled lines forming a square
border or frame on a binding, which is done in gilt or
by blind tooling. Also known as pannelled. |
| Condition |
Below are the
common six states of condition. |
| Mint
/ As New |
A book that is in new condition, that has never been
read and is without any defects whatsoever. |
|
Fine (F) |
Approaches the above, but not crisp. May
have been carefully read and dustjacket may have been
slightly rubbed or spine ends slightly bumped from shelving/shipping,
but no real defects or faults. |
|
Very good |
A used book showing some small signs of
wear on either binding or dustjacket. Any defects/faults
must be noted. |
|
Good |
The average used and worn book that has
all pages or leaves present. Any defects must be noted. |
|
Fair |
A worn book that has complete text pages
(including those with maps or plates) but may lack endpapers,
half-title page, etc. (which must be noted). Binding,
dustjacket, etc. may also be worn. All defects/faults
must be noted. |
|
Poor |
A book that is sufficiently worn that its
only merit is the complete text, which must be legible.
Any missing maps or plates should still be noted. May
be soiled, scuffed, stained, or spotted, and may have
loose joints, hinges, pages, etc. Also called Reading
copy. |
|
Contemporary binding |
Up until the 19th century,
books were published unbound, with the understanding that
the new owner would have his books bound at his leisure.
This term refers to bindings done the same year or within
a few years of the publication of such a book |
|
Copperplate |
Illustrations produced when
the original printing plate was engraved on copper; this
method was introduced before the end of the 15th century.
They replaced the woodcut, which reappeared later on |
|
Copyright page |
The page that appears on verso
of the title page, containing the artistic property protection |
|
Covers |
The binding of a book; i.e.
cloth, calf, morocco, boards, wrappers, etc |
|
Cracked |
Refers to the condition of
a book; there is a long narrow opening or break down the
spine or in the cover |
|
Crimped |
Refers to the condition of
a book; a grooved, indented, or pinched condition of a
cover or page, which is caused by extreme humidity. It
can also describe a bookmaking process that bends the
hinges of loose-leaf books so that the pages of a book
will easily turnover and lie flat |
|
Cropped |
The margins of the book have
been trimmed by the binder, usually too close to the text
or into the text |
|
Cut |
An illustration that is printed
on a text page. See also plate |
|
Cut edges |
The most common type of book
edges, trimmed even with a large binders knife prior to
finishing the binding process (see also uncut, unopened,
and deckle edges) |
|
Dampstain |
Stain often of a shade of
tan or gray resulting from water or other liquid damage
to a volume; tolerated by collectors when it is minimal
and occurs in very old, scarce volumes; its presence does
lower the monetary value. |
|
dec, decor |
decorated |
|
Deckle edge |
Natural
or sometimes artificial rough edge of page, left uncut
(see also cut edges, uncut, and unopened) |
|
Dedication Copy |
A copy of a book inscribed
by the author to the person to whom the book is dedicated |
|
deluxe edition |
An edition of a book that
has been specially printed and bound for its fine appearance.
Sometimes refers to limited editions with special leather
or decorated cloth bindings, gilt edges etc |
|
Dentelle |
A lace-like pattern applied
to the edges of the cover of the inside border of a book
bound in leather |
| Desiderata |
A listing of books
desired |
|
Device |
A printer's ornament
or an insignia which is the publisher's identifying mark |
|
Dimple |
An indentation, such as on
a golf ball, on covers or pages. |
|
Ding |
A small bump or dent leaving
an impression, sometimes caused by careless handling or
storage |
|
Disbound |
Descriptive term for a book
or pamphlet or ephemera which has been removed from its
binding |
|
Doctered |
A book that has been repaired,
restored, or even added to. Also known as made-up |
|
Dog-eared |
Worn or ragged, usually referring
to the edges of pages and binding. Corners of pages turned
down like a dog's ear. |
|
Dummy copy |
Book made to appear like a
soon to be published title, but with a text block of blank
pages |
| Duodecimo |
see definition
under Book Formats |
|
Dust jacket |
see dust wrapper |
| Dust wrapper |
The paper, often
with illustrations and information about the book, used
as a protective covering over the book; sometimes called
a book jacket (dj) or a dust wrapper (dw). Collectors
of literary first editions usually insist on having a
fine copy of the original dust jacket with the book |
|
Edges |
The three outer sides of the
text block when book is closed: fore edge, top edge or
head, and bottom edge or foot |
|
ed. |
edition |
|
Edition & Printing |
Edition
includes the copies of a book or other printed material
which originate from the same plates or setting of type.
If 500 copies of a book are printed on Oct. 5 and 300
copies are printed from the same substantially unchanged
plates on Dec. 10, all 800 copies are part of the same
edition.
Printing: the copies of a book or other printed material
which originate from the same press run or from the same
plates or setting of type at one time. In the example
given for "Edition" above, the 500 copies would
be the first printing and the 300 copies comprise the
second printing. In the 19th century some publishers labeled
later printings as if they were later editions, i.e. a
second printing would be called a "second edition"
on the copyright page |
|
Embossed leather |
A leather which has been printed
with a raised design |
|
End paper |
Paper, often of coated stock
or marbled paper or otherwise "fancy" paper,
with one half pasted to the cover; used primarily to give
a finished appearance to the binding |
|
Ephemera |
Throwaway paper of every day
life (e.g.: advertising, ticket stubs, programs, some
booklets and pamphlets, etc.) |
|
Errata |
A list of errors and their
corrections or additions to the printing, found after
book has been printed, usually on separate sheet or slip
of paper. The plural of erratum |
|
Ex-library |
Legitimately removed (discarded/deaccessioned)
from an institutional library, such as a public library,
university library, historical society, etc. Often has
catalog numbers inked or painted on the spine, library
bookplates, embossed or rubber-stamped identification
on the title page and plates, library card pockets and
often shows considerable wear and/or rebinding in a plain
buckram. Referred to as "ex-lib" and of considerably
lower monetary value than the respective book which has
never been the property of an institutional library |
|
Ex-libris |
A Latin phrase meaning "from
the books" or to paraphrase, "from the library
or collection of"; the phrase is frequently used
on bookplates |
|
Extra-illustrated |
Usually a volume made into
a unique copy with additional illustrations, autographs,
or manuscripts added by carefully gluing or tipping-in
this extra material |
|
Facsimile |
A reproduction of a book.
Many facsimiles have some designation
on them to distinguish them from the book they are replicating |
|
Fading |
Refers to the condition of
a book; describes the loss of color on the pages, dust
jacket, or the cover of the book, which is usually caused
by time or exposure to sunlight |
| Fair |
see Condition |
|
False band |
A fake raised
band that is attached directly to the spine of the book
or the hollow of the cover. This decorative element is
designed to make the book look sturdier than it actually
is |
|
Festschrift |
A book containing
a number of scholarly essays printed in honor of an individual |
| Fine |
see Condition |
|
Fine binding |
An elaborately
designed book; for example, a book that is bound in leather
with blind stamps and gilt edges |
|
First Appearances |
this term can refer
to several different concepts:
· The first time an author appears in print,
i.e. Henry D. Thoreau's first appearance in print was
as an anonymous obituary in a Concord newspaper.
· The first time a specific writing of an author
appears (in a magazine or newspaper or anthology), Emily
Dickinson's poem "I'm nobody Who are you"
appears first in "Life", March 1891.
· The first time a specific subject is treated
in book form, i.e. the first American book on the subject
of dry fly fishing was written by Emlyn Gill and published
in 1913 |
|
First Books |
The first book appearance
by an author (usually refers to a book entirely by the
author, not merely a first appearance of a poem or short
story in an anthology). Frequently an established, well
known author's first book is not widely known; i.e. James
Fenimore Cooper's "Precaution" |
|
First Edition |
All
of the copies printed from the first setting of type;
can include multiple printings if all are from the same
setting of type. Every printed book has a first edition,
many never have later editions. A later edition would
have substantial changes in the printing plates or type
such as the addition of a new preface or new chapter or
major changes throughout the text and often is printed
from a complete resetting of the type. When book collectors
use the term first edition, they are usually referring
to the first printing and if there are different states
or issues, the earliest of those |
|
|
- some related terms:
· Issue: a portion of an edition printed
or published deliberately by the printer or publisher
in a distinct form differing from the rest of the printing
relative to paper, binding, format, etc. The distinction
between "issue" and "state" is that
the former relates to changes done on purpose by the
publisher and intentionally treated as a separate unit,
i.e. a large paper issue.
· State: a portion of a printing with
changes such as minor alterations to the text either
intentional or accidental; insertion of cancels, advertisements,
or insertions; copies on different paper without intention
of creating a searate issue; and other changes other
than folding or collating or binding. An example would
be when a pressman discovers battered or broken type,
stops the presses and resets that portion of the page
by replacing the broken type and then resumes the printing.
· Variants: usually refers to differences
in bindings or end papers ( paper located just inside
the front and rear covers, one half of which is glued
to the cover) within an issue or printing. One variant
may have a title stamped on the front cover in black
and another may be stamped in red |
|
First thus |
Not a first edition, but something
new, revised, having a new introduction by the author
or someone else, new illustrations, but the first publication
in its new form or by a new publisher |
|
Flyleaf |
A blank leaf (or leaves) inserted
during the binding process between the free end paper
and the beginning or end of the printed pages |
| Flexible binding |
Limp, leather/plastic
covers which are flexible |
| Folio |
see Book
Formats |
|
Foot |
The bottom edge
of the text block |
|
Fore edge |
The right edge
opposite the spine |
|
Fore edge painting |
A painting on gilded fore
edge, which can only be seen by fanning pages. Popular
in the 15th and 16th centuries, and occasionally still
being done today |
|
Foxing |
Rust colored spots which occur
on paper resulting from oxidation of both organic and
iron impurities left behind during the paper making process.
Only when these impurities exist in the paper, given exposure
to the right humidity and temperature factors, will foxing
occur. This process is intrinsic to the paper; some paper
will never have the rusty, brown, yellow spots known as
foxing |
|
Fraying |
Refers to the condition of
a book; the unraveling of the threads or fibers of an
edge of a book cover that is caused by excessive rubbing |
|
Free endpaper |
Front and rear
blank pages added by the binder |
|
Frontispiece |
An illustration or plate inserted
immediately in front of the title page, with the illustration
facing the title page, often abbreviated as frontis |
|
Front matter |
The pages preceeding the text
of a book |
| Full Binding |
Usually refers
to leather binding, see Binding |
|
Galley Proof |
(Author's Proof).
Copies of the book (usually in an inexpensive binding)
intended for the author, editors, and proof readers to
correct |
|
g.t. |
Gilt top,
gilt applied to the top edge of the text block |
|
Gathering |
A folded printed sheet of
leaves prior to binding; referred to as a signature after
binding |
| Gauffered edges |
A pattern tooled
on gilt edges of book |
|
g.e. |
Gilt edges |
|
Gilt top |
Gilt
top, gilt applied to the top edge of the text block |
|
Gilt edges |
Page edges cut smooth and
gilded (covered with a thin layer of gold leaf) |
|
Glassine |
Transparent paper sometimes
used as a dust jacket to protect a book |
|
Gnawed |
Refers to the condition of
a book; chewed-on edges or corners of a book |
| Good |
see Condition |
|
Gouge |
Refers to the
condition of a book; an unintentional nick or hole in
the cover of a book, or on its spine. Or in bookbinding,
a single-line finishing tool that is used to create either
blind or gold decoration on the covers but not on the
spine of a book |
|
Grading |
Guidelines used to properly
describe condition of books. See condition |
|
g.t. |
gilt top |
|
Gutter |
The inner margin of the leaves
of a bound book; adjacent inner margins of facing pages
when book is open |
|
Half binding |
see Binding |
| Half cloth |
Cloth spine and
paper covered sides |
|
Half title |
A page which precedes the
the title page and the text, with the title (often abbreviated)
usually centered on the page |
|
Hardbound |
hardcover |
|
Hardcover |
A book whose case is made
of stiff boards, as opposed to wrappers |
|
hb |
hardbound |
|
hc |
hardcover |
| Head |
Top edge of the
text block |
|
Headband |
Band of silk or cotton affixed
to signatures when bound for strength or, more often,
decoration of the spine |
|
High spot |
A term that is used to denote
a highly regarded first or important edition of a book |
|
Highlighting |
The bright pen markings where
the previous owner marked the book to highlight words,
sentences, and/or passages of text |
|
Hinge |
The inside portion of the
flexible area where book cover meets the book spine; often
used interchangeably with the term joint, which should
be used to designate the outside or exterior portion of
the "hinge". A volume which has received heavy
or rough use often has cracked or broken hinges |
|
Holograph |
Anything handwritten entirely
by the writer; i.e. a letter written entirely in the handwriting
of the correspondent is a holograph of that person |
|
Ideal copy |
When a number of copies of
an edition of a book are compared to each other, a bibliographer
may set out what he or she considers to be the description
of the standard copy of that edition, to which all other
copies can be compared. Thus, when a book is said to be
"missing a page", it is assumed that the ideal
copy of that book always contains that particular page |
|
Illuminated |
A manuscript or book embellished
with decorative elements that are typically hand-painted
in rich colors and are sometimes gilded. The elements
may include initial letters, designs, and/or pictorial
scenes |
|
illustrated wraps |
See pictorial paper cover |
|
Impression |
All the copies of a book printed
during one press run. During the handpress period, when
type was reset each time a press was used, this term was
synonymous with edition |
|
Imprint |
When used as a noun refers
to the publication data located at the base of a title
page, usually includes the city of publication, name of
the publisher (sometimes the printer),and the year of
publication. Sometimes this information is located in
a colophon at the back of a book. Imprint can also be
used to refer to a printed piece from a certain location
or period of time, i.e. the university has a collection
of 18th century Massachusetts imprints |
|
Incunable |
Anything printed during the
15th century, the first century of printing with "moveable
type"; from the Latin, meaning "from the cradle";
can also be used in a relative sense to refer to other
early printings, i.e. incunables from the Pacific islands |
|
Inscribed |
A
book, or other printed piece, with a handwritten and signed
statement usually written for a specific named person(s)
and often located on the end paper or title page; when
"inscribed" is used to describe a book, unless
otherwise stated, it is implied that the author has written
the inscription. When used to designate the recipients
of a book as a gift from the author (or publisher), it
is called a "presentation inscription" |
|
Interleaved |
When blank leaves alternate
with the printed leaves of a book |
|
Issue |
A portion
of an edition printed or published deliberately by the
printer or publisher in a distinct form differing from
the rest of the printing relative to paper, binding, format,
etc. The distinction between "issue" and "state"
is that the former relates to changes done on purpose
by the publisher and intentionally treated as a separate
unit, i.e. a large paper issue. (see also first
edition, state, variant) |
|
japon vellum |
A smooth, glossy, durable
paper that looks and feels a little like vellum but is
made from native fibers and is produced in Japan. Most
commonly found in fancy or editions de luxe |
|
Joint |
The exterior flexible "hinge"
where book cover meets book spine; "hinge" is
usually used to designate the equivalent inside or interior
flexible area. The joint is often an area that splits
or cracks or otherswise shows wear in an older cloth or
leather volume |
|
Juvenilia |
Work written when an author
was extremely young, often as a child |
| Laid in |
Paper/photograph/print
is laid in (not glued down) |
| Laid on |
See tipped
in |
|
Laminate |
The thin plastic layer covering
the dust jacket of some books |
|
Large paper copy |
A special edition printed
with the pages reconfigured to result in larger leaves
with very wide page margins; the text of the individual
pages remaining the same as the normal edition; usually
large paper copies are printed in small, limited editions |
|
Leaf (leaves) |
Refers to the smallest, standard
physical unit of paper in a printed piece; in the case
of books and pamphlets, usually with a printed page on
each side of a leaf; a broadside is printed on a single
side of a single leaf.Marbled edges: usually the top,
bottom and foreedge of a book with a multi-colored, swirled
design, somewhat resembling the coloration pattern of
marble stone. |
|
Leatherette |
An imitation of grained leather,
produced from a strong, machine-glazed base paper. Many
small prayer books, for example, are leatherette. See
also imitation leather |
|
Levant |
Elegant and highly polished
morocco goatskin leather with a grain-pattern surface |
|
Limited edition |
Small number of copies of
book published. Books are usually numbered such as "100/500"
meaning number 100 of an edition of 500 |
|
Limp cover |
A book that has a flexible
cloth, leather, or vellum cover. In the last quarter of
the 18th century and the first quarter of the 19th, limp
leather covers were commonly used for books to be carried
in the pocket. In the 20th century, the primary use was
for cheap, educational, sentimental verse, or devotional
books. Also known as limp cloth, limp binding, limp leather,
or limp vellum |
|
Lithography |
One of a class of processes
termed planographic, in which the printing surface (stone,
zinc or a similar smooth-surfaced material) is not incised
but instead treated with a medium that selectively absorbs
(or repels) printing ink |
|
Loose |
When a book has been read
carelessly or too often, and has become loose and sloppy
in its binding |
|
Loose-leaf |
The binding of individual
sheets of paper in an exchangeable form, for pages to
be added, removed, or relocated in the book. Loose-leaf
bindings are used wherever records of repeatedly changing
information must be kept. Instruction manuals, catalogs,
and accounting forms are often loose-leaf bound. Also
known as ring-bound |
|
LS |
Letter signed,
a letter written by another, usually a secretary, but
signed by the correspondent, as opposed to an ALS which
is written entirely in the hand of the correspondent |
|
Manuscript |
The original pages of an author's
work, written in the author's hand or typed |
|
Marbled paper |
Paper decorated with a multi-colored,
swirled design or pattern; often used for end papers or
for paper covered boards, especially with 3/4 or 1/2 leather
bindings |
|
Married |
Two related items brought
together, though not initially sold as a unit, for the
purpose of making the set complete as published (i.e.:
a book and dust jacket, or two volumes in a set) |
| Mint |
see Condition |
|
Misbound |
An illustration,
map, or a number of pages that have been incorrectly folded,
bound in the wrong place, or bound in upside down |
|
Modern First |
A first edition
of a book published within this century |
|
Monograph |
A work, generally
short, dealing with a single subject |
|
Morocco |
Leather binding made from
goat hides; usually used in high quality or fine bindings
for the interesting texture of the leather; originally
tanned with sumac in the country of Morocco (see also
calf, sheep and vellum) |
|
ms, mss |
manuscript |
|
Mull |
The cloth which reinforces
the hinges and is pasted directly to the body of a book
and is hidden by the spine |
|
n.d. |
This abbreviation means "no
date" provided in the imprint |
| n.p. |
"No place"
of publication provided in the imprint |
|
Obverse |
The front or main
surface of anything |
| Octavo |
see Book
Formats |
|
Offprint |
An excerpt of
a larger publication which has been printed and bound
separately for promotional purposes. For example, publishers
will print and bound a chapter of a book to send to booksellers
or for the author to give away before the entire book
is published. Scholarly excerpts are another example;
a portion of a large journal piece printed for a professor
to distribute. Offprints are highly sought after by collectors
because, technically, they can be considered a first separate
edition of the work and will often have a presentation
inscription |
|
o.p. |
Out-of-print |
|
Open tear |
A tear which may
have some material missing |
|
orig. |
Original, as in
original binding |
| Out-of-print |
No longer available
from the publisher (o.p. or op) |
|
Out-of-series |
Unnumbered editions
from a numbered limited edition series. They are considered
"extra copies" of the edition, are usually not
signed, and are not considered part of the limited edition
series |
|
o/w |
Otherwise |
|
Owner's inscription |
Words written by previous
or original owner of book. Also known as previous owner's
inscription |
|
Pagination |
The numbering
of the pages |
|
Pamphlet |
A small work that
is less than book-length, has paper wraps, and typically
has a staple binding. Also known as brochure |
|
Panel |
Refers to borders in binding.
Can also be used in connection with the main surfaces
of a dust jacket |
|
Paperback |
A book bound with flexible
paper covers; usually a term reserved for mass-market
publications |
|
Paper covers |
Describes a book not bound
in stiff paper covers. Can refer to a temporary binding,
a booklet or pamphlet, or a book in early (1800s) wrappers |
|
Parchment |
The skin of a sheep, goat,
etc., prepared as a surface for writing or for use as
a binding material |
|
Pastedown endpaper |
The part of the endpapers
that is pasted to the inside of the front and rear covers |
|
Perfect bound |
A binding method that utilizes
a plastic glue to bind the loose leaves to the solid text
block of a book. It is used for paperback books |
|
Pirate edition |
Any edition of a work issued
without permission of the author and without payment of
royalties to the author or copyright holder |
|
Plate |
An illustration(s) printed
on a separate sheet of paper (usually heavy and better
quality than the text pages) and added to the book during
the binding process |
|
Points |
Peculiarities in a published
book whose presence or absence helps to determine edition,
issue, or state |
| Poor |
see Condition |
|
Portfolio |
A portable case
used to protect loose papers, plates, pamphlets, and the
like. It usually consists of two boards with a wide cloth
or paper joint forming the "spine." Can also
refer to an artist's body of work |
|
ppbk |
A mass market
paperback book |
|
preliminary pages (prelims) |
The first pages
of the book that appear before the text begins |
|
Pre-publication price |
When a new title is first
offered for sale, often this special lower price is promoted
and available for a limited time before publication |
|
Presentation copy |
A copy of a printed item inscribed
and signed by the author (or publisher) and provided as
a gift; see inscribed |
|
Price clipped |
The price on the inner flap
of a dust jacket has been cut off |
|
Printing |
The copies of a book or other
printed material which originate from the same press run
or from the same plates or setting of type at one time.
In the example given for "Edition", the 500
copies would be the first printing and the 300 copies
comprise the second printing. In the 19th century some
publishers labeled later printings as if they were later
editions, i.e. a second printing would be called a "second
edition" on the copyright page. (see also edition) |
|
Pristine condition |
A book in its original condition,
unchanged in any way |
|
Private Press |
A small press, often operated
by one person, usually devoted to the production of small
quantities of finely printed books |
|
Privately Printed |
A book or pamphlet whose printing
was paid for by an individual or group and is meant for
private circulation, not public sale |
| Proofs |
See uncorrected
proof |
|
Prospectus |
Printed material, often in
the form of a leaflet or broadside, which describes a
forth-coming title in detail, often including information
on ordering the book including pre-publication price |
|
Provenance |
Evidence of the history of
the ownership of a particular book (e.g.: auctions records,
booksellers' records, book plates, etc.) The book may
be important because of who owned it; perhaps a president
or important bookseller, collector, royalty, or someone
who may be related to the book in some way. Important
in establishing the ownership of especially rare items |
|
Pseudonym |
An assumed name used to protect
the anonymity of an author. Also known as pen name or
nom de plume |
|
Publisher's binding |
Binding provided by the publisher
when supplying a book for a bookseller. This practice,
while common today, dates from the 1800s |
|
quality paperback |
See trade paperback |
| Quarter binding |
see Binding |
| Quarto |
see Book
formats |
|
Rag book |
A children's book
printed on and bound with cloth fabric |
|
Rare |
A book that is
extremely scarce |
|
Raised Bands |
On a cord-bound
book, the horizontal raised bands on the spine, usually
of a leather binding. Not often used in books published
today, except for quality leather-bound editions |
|
Reading copy |
Well worn, usually abused
copy of a book, often in need of rebinding; i.e. suitable
for reading, but unlikely to be included in a book collection
unless rebound; sometimes refers to a copy that can be
read, but is not of a quality worth rebinding |
|
Reading crease |
A crease down the spine of
a book (usually a paperback); |
|
Rebacked |
The spine or backstrip has
been replaced with new material, in some cases the original
worn backstrip is saved and glued over the new material |
|
Rebound |
Copy of a book which has had
the original binding removed and a new binding attached;
when there is no need to resew or trim the book, the term
"recased" is sometimes used to indicate that
a new binding and new end papers have been added |
|
Recased |
A repair, where a book is
taken apart and put back together using original pages,
cloth, and endpapers. Usually done to tighten the sewing
or to wash the pages, etc |
|
Recto |
The front side of a leaf or
in the case of an open book the page on the right, with
the page on the left being the verso |
|
Re-issue |
