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4to A book that is up to 12" tall. See Quarto.
8vo A book that is up to 9¾" tall. See Octavo.
12mo A book that is up to 7¾" tall. See Duodecimo.
16mo A book that is up to 6¾" tall. See Sextodecimo.
24mo A book that is up to 5¾" tall.
32mo A book that is up to 5" tall.
48mo A book that is up to 4" tall.
64mo A book that is up to 3" tall.
Folio A book that is up to 15" tall.
Elephant Folio A book that is up to 23" tall.
Atlas Folio A book that is up to 25" tall.
Double Elephant Folio A Book that is up to 50" tall.
Condition
Condition of a book is usually in the form of VG/VG,
Fine/Good, VG/--, etc. The first part is the condition of the
book, the second is the condition of the dust jacket. If a "/--"
is present, it usually means that the dustjacket is not present.
As New
To be used only when the book is in the same immaculate
condition to which it was published. There can be no defects,
no missing pages, no library stamps, etc., and the dustjacket
(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,
etc., 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,
etc. (which must be noted). Binding, jacket (if any), etc., may
also be worn. All defects must be noted.
Poor
Describes a book that is sufficiently worn that is
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, etc.
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.
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.
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 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 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 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.
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 edtion. 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.