Glossary Book Terms

Alphabetical Glossary of Antiquarian Book Terms

A

Advance Copy: A pre-publication copy issued for promotional or review purposes.
Antiquarian: Pertaining to books that are old, rare, or collectible.
Appendix: Supplementary material at the end of a book.
Association Copy: A book owned or inscribed by someone connected to the author or subject.
Autograph: A handwritten signature by the author or another notable individual.

B

Backstrip: The spine covering of a book, particularly the external surface.
Bastard Title: A short title appearing on a leaf before the full title page.
Bibliography: A list of books or sources, usually with full publication details.
Binding: The cover and method of assembling a book (e.g., leather, cloth, paper).
Blind Stamping: Impressions made on a cover without color or gilding.
Boards: The stiff covers of a hardcover book.
Broadside: A single sheet printed on one side only.

C

Calf: Smooth leather from a calf, often used in fine bindings.
Chipping: Small missing pieces from the edges of pages or covers.
Clothbound: A book bound in cloth-covered boards.
Colophon: A note at the end of a book with printing details.
Condition: The physical state of a book, often ranked as Fine, VG, Good, Fair, Poor.
Contemporary Binding: A binding made around the time of publication.
Copyright Page: A page near the front with legal information and publication history.

D

Deckle Edge: The rough, untrimmed edge of handmade paper.
Dedication: A page where the author dedicates the book to someone.
Desiderata: A collector’s list of desired books.
Dust Jacket (DJ): A removable paper cover, usually illustrated.

E

Edition: A version of a book printed from the same setting of type.
Endpapers: Sheets attached to the inside covers, often decorative.
Ephemera: Printed items not meant to last, like pamphlets, tickets, or ads.
Epilogue: A concluding section at the end of a literary work.
Ex-Libris: A bookplate indicating ownership.
Ex-Library: A book previously held in a library, often marked as such.

F

Facsimile: A faithful reproduction of an original book or manuscript.
Fair: A grade of condition indicating heavy wear but complete.
Fine (F): A condition grade indicating excellent, near-new condition.
First Edition: The first published version of a book.
Flyleaf: A blank page at the beginning or end of a book.
Foxing: Brownish spots caused by aging or humidity.

G

Gathering: A group of folded sheets forming part of a book.
Gilt: Gold leaf or gold-colored decoration, usually on edges or lettering.
Good (G): A condition indicating moderate wear with all pages intact.

H

Half Leather: A binding with leather spine and corners, and cloth or paper sides.
Headband: A decorative band at the top (or bottom) of the spine.
Hinges: The inside part of a book’s joint where cover meets the spine.

I

Illumination: Decorative or illustrated manuscript work, often with gold or silver.
Illustrated: Containing pictures, drawings, or images.
Impression: A specific printing of an edition.
Incunabula: Books printed before 1501 in Europe.
Inscribed Copy: A copy signed with a personal message from the author.
Issue: A subset of an edition with distinguishable characteristics.

J

Joint: The exterior part where the spine meets the covers.

L

Leaf: A single sheet of paper in a book; two pages (recto and verso).
Limited Edition: A book printed in a restricted number, often signed and numbered.
Loose: Pages or cover that have detached or are not securely bound.

M

Marbled Paper: Decorative paper with swirled patterns, often used for endpapers.
Marginalia: Notes or markings made in the margins of a book.
Morocco: A high-quality goatskin leather used in bindings.

N

Nineteenth-Century Binding: Typically refers to cloth or leather-bound styles from the 1800s.
Number Line: A line of numbers indicating the print run of modern books.

O

Offsetting: Ink transferred from one page to another when closed.
Out of Print (OOP): A book no longer published or available new.

P

Pagination: The numbering of pages.
Pastedown: The half of the endpaper glued to the cover board.
Plates: Full-page illustrations printed separately from the text.
Presentation Copy: A book given as a gift by the author, often inscribed.
Provenance: The ownership history of a book.

Q

Quarter Binding: A binding where only the spine (and sometimes corners) is covered in a different material.

R

Recto: The right-hand page of an open book; the front side of a leaf.
Remainder Mark: A mark showing a book was discounted by the publisher.
Reprint: A new printing of a previous edition.
Rubrication: Red lettering or decoration, especially in manuscripts.

S

Scarce: A book that is hard to find but not necessarily rare.
Shelfwear: Minor wear from placing/removing books on a shelf.
Signature (Gathering): A group of folded sheets sewn together.
Slipcase: A protective case that holds a book.
Spine: The part of the book visible on the shelf.
Sprinkled Edges: Page edges with ink splatter for decoration or protection.

T

Tailband: The bottom spine band, often decorative.
Tipped-in: A page or plate glued onto a page.
Title Page: The page displaying the book’s title, author, and publisher.
Toning: Discoloration of paper due to age.

V

Vellum: A smooth parchment made from calf or lamb skin.
Verso: The left-hand page or the reverse side of a leaf.

W

Watermark: A faint design in the paper visible when held up to light.
Worming: Damage caused by insects, often in old books.