BOOK TRADE GLOSSARY

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General Glossary

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 copy of the trade edition with a review slip laid in.

aeg

See All Edges gilt.

al

See Autographed Letter.

All Edges Gilt

The top, for-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, i.e., americana, Hemingwayana, etc.

Antiquarian Books

A loose term implying collectible books rather than used books. Refers to old, rare, and out-of-print 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 them.

As Usual

A favorite term to describe defects which 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.

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

Biblio

From the Greek: signifying or pertaining to books.

Biblioclast

A destroyer of books.

Bibliognost

Having a deep knowledge of books.

Biblioklept

A stealer of books.

Bibliomaniac

Many bookdealers and certain collectors.

Bibliophile

A lover of books.

Bibliophobe

A fear of books.

Bibliopole

The people behind the booths at the book fairs.

Binding

The cover of the book.

Binding Copy

A book which 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 around the mid 1400's in Germany and the Netherlands in which pictures and explanatory text well printed from woodblocks.

Blurb

A comment from a review (often by another author praising the particular book) printed on the dustwrapper or covers of a proof copy, or on a wrap-around 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 it's 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, etc.

Cancel

A tipped-in (i.e., pasted in) page to replace 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 pieces are missing or where fraying has occurred on a dust jacket or the edge of a paperback.

cl

See Cloth.

Cloth

A cloth-bound book. The covering can be linen, buckram or another textile.

Cocked spine

Refers to a spine which 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. By checking for the presence of every leaf or page originally in the volume when issued, 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.

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 paperwraps, 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".

cwo

Check or cash (payment) with order.

dec, decor

Decorated. Often referred 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 or 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 dustwrapper, indicating the usually decorative paper wrapper placed around a book to protect the binding.

Dustwrapper

See Dust Jacket.

dw

Dust Wrapper. See Dust Jacket.

ed

See Edited, Edition, Editor.

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.

Editor

A person who gathers material for a book oversees a test written by others, and/or makes the text more readable.

8vo

See Octavo.

Elephant Folio

A book about 23 inches tall.

End Papers

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 End Papers.

Ephemera

From the Greek work ephemeron, meaning something that disappears quickly. Examples are: manifestos, broadsides, programs, menus, tickets, playbills, etc.

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 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.

F

See Condition - Fine.

F, FF, fol

See Folio.

ffep

The end paper that is not attached to the inside front cover. See End Papers.

First and Second Printing before Publication

This indicates 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 something is new. It may be revised, have a new introduction by the author or someone else, but the first publication in paperback form, or 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; and (3) a folio-sized 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 not discernible when the book was 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 End Papers.

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

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 dustwrapper.

gt

See Gilt Edges

Half Cloth

Paper-cover boards with he 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 multi-colored, 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 last ten years or so. Most were published so recently that there is no track record on author or book.

I

See Index.

Ill, Ills, Illus.

See Illustrated.

Illum

Referring 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 press run.

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.

Jacket

The printed or unprinted cover, usually paper, placed around the bound book. Sometimes called dustjacket (dj), dustwrapper (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.

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 help 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.

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

A 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 which 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 goatskins, especially suitable for book bindings because of its durability and beauty.

ms, mss

Manuscript.

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).

np

See No Place.

Number

An issue of a periodical.

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 x 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 (sixteen pages).

Offprint

A separate printing of a section of a larger publication; i.e., a periodical.

Offset

The transfer of ink from one page to another, either as 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.

Pamphlet

A small separate work issued in paperwraps.

pb, ppr

See paperback.

Paperback

Books in paperwraps published since the 1930's, 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 book store stamps on the edges, inside the front cover, etc. 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 end-paper pasted to the inner cover of a book.

pc

See price-clipped.

Perfect binding

Used in 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 book binding 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.

Printing Company

A company that will supply an individual or trade with printed products

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 which 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 paper wraps.

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 data a book is formally placed on sale.

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).

Rare

Implies the books is extremely scarce, perhaps only turning up 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.

Re-backed

A book that has been repaired by getting a new spine and mended hinges.

Re-cased

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 leftt-hand page of an opened book. Also called the verso.

rfep

The end paper that is not attached to the inside rear cover. See End Papers.

rm

See Remainder Marks.

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 sixteen 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 which holds a book with only the spine exposed.

Spine

The book's backbone, where the signatures are gathered. The spine is covered with the back strip.

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.

teg

See Top Edge Gilt or Gilt Edges.

Thousands

Some publishers in the nineteenth 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 nineteenth century.

Tipped-in

Means the plate, autograph, letter, photo, etc., is actually attached to the book.

Tirage

French for "a 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 should be used for cataloguing (not the half-title page or covers).

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.

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.

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.

Waterstained

Discoloration and perhaps actual shrinking of the leaves or binding.

wr, wrs

See Wrappers.

Wrap-around Band

The band of printed paper the length of the dust-wrapper of a book. Wrap-around bands contain favorable reviews and are put around some copies of books. Obviously fragile, that are of interest to collectors.

Wrappers

The outer covers of a paperbound book or pamphlet. Not to be confused with "dust wrapper".

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.