Glossary

Spine and corners of book are bound in leather.

Spine is bound in leather.

Read: duodecimo, or twelvemo refers to the number of times a sheet was folded before being cut to form pages. Book stands about 7 inches tall.

Read: sextodecimo, or sixteenmo, refers to the number of times a sheet was folded before being cut to form pages. Book stands about 6 inches tall. 1st ed.

Spine and large portions of boards are bound in leather.

Read: quarto, refers to the number of times a sheet was folded before being cut to form pages. Book stands about 12 inches tall (the size of an average art book).

Read: octavo, refers to the number of times a sheet was folded before being cut to form pages. Book stands about 8 to 10 inches tall (the size of an average modern novel).

Autograph letter: a handwritten letter, usually by the author, and laid into the book by the previous owner.

Autograph letter: a handwritten letter, signed, usually by the author, and laid into the book.

An advance, prepublication copy of the book sent to reviewers and booksellers, usually bound in pictorial wrappers.

Edges of pages cut smooth and gilded to protect from dust.

Cover of the book. See also: boards, wrappers, and cloth.

An impressed mark raising a pattern, decoration or lettering in the paper, made by a tool specifically for that reason.

An ownership label, usually pasted on the front end papers.

Leather made from the hide of a calf, the most common type of leather in bookbinding.

Binding consisting of cloth covered boards.

The page following the title page, containing information about the various editions and copyrights.

The binding of a book; see also, boards, wrappers, cloth, and leather.

A stain resulting from light water or liquid damage, usually a shade lighter than the covers.

Two, usually slim, books bound together upside down and sharing the same spine.

Usually refers to the outer edges of the leaves of a book.

All books printed from the same type set.

The paper at the beginning and end of the text, with one half pasted to the cover.

A title page instead of, or in addition to the printed title page, usually with an elaborate design.

Non-book material of transitory interest, usually pamphlets, programs, broadsides, etc.

A term indicating the book once belonged to a library, often with stamps on the covers, on the text and on the plates.

A term meaning "from the library of" often used on bookplates.

A copy of the book from the first printing.

The first edition in this form.

The first edition printed for general sale.

Refers to the number of times a sheet was folded before being cut to form pages. Book stands about 15 inches tall.

The front edge of the book, opposite the spine.

Brown rusty looking spots to the leaves, caused by a chemical reaction, most commonly found in 19th century books.

An illustration placed at the beginning of the book, just before the title page.

Full leather binding.

Usually means all three edges of the text block have been cut smooth and gilded

A transparent dust jacket.

Inner margin.

The page preceding the title page containing the title (often abbreviated).

A decorative band placed into the head (and sometimes foot) of the spine and the leaves.

The part of the book where the cover meets the spine, usually referring to the inside of the book.

Used to denote a book signed, usually by the author or artist, with a note to the recipient

The area of the book where the spine meets the covers, usually referring to the outside of the book.

Paper or letter inserted, but not glued, into the book.

Refers to one sheet, consisting of two pages.

A book with a rather small number of copies printed, often signed and numbered.

Paper decorated with a marble pattern, often used for endpapers or on boards.

First editions of books published in the 20th century.

Leather made from goat hides.

Used to denote a book with no publication date listed.

Used to denote a book with no place of publication or publisher listed.

The transfer of ink from one printed sheet to another, or oxidation from something that was placed in the book.

Original, as in original printing, binding, edition, etc.

One side of a leaf.

The half of the endpaper pasted down to the inside of the cover.

Whole page illustrations printed on separate paper and usually inserted to the text during binding.

A copy of a book presented by the author, often around publication date.

Price has been clipped off the dust jacket flap.

A small press, usually printing limited numbers of quality copies.

Refers to a book printed by an individual or small group of people, usually not intended for public sale.

A pre publication copy of the book for the use of editors and reviewers, usually bound in plain printed wrappers.

Publisher, published.

Material (photographs and author bios) provided by the publishers for reviewers and book sellers, often laid into the book.

Spine has been replaced and hinges mended. Sometimes the original spine is saved and pasted over the new material.

The front side of a leaf; the right hand page of an open book.

When a publisher sells remainders, the bottoms of the books are often marked with a stamp, marker, or spray paint.

A copy of the book given to a reviewer prior to publication and containing a review slip or publication material.

An announcement of the date and price of publication.

Wear from general use that slightly fades and frays the book.

Book with signatures or leaves loose but still attached to binding.

The group of leaves formed from folding a single printed sheet and cutting, groups of signatures are sewn together to form a book.

A box with one open side, usually bound in paper, cloth, or leather that a book slides into for protection.

All the pages between the covers.

Refers to a method of inserting plates, leaves, or illustrations, by which each corner is glued down with small amounts of gum, paste or glue.

The page near the beginning of the book bearing the full title, author, editor, and usually publisher, and place of publication. The information on this page is used for cataloging purposes.

Top edge of the book has been coated in gilt.

Regularly published edition, distinguishable from a limited edition.

Typed letter, signed by the writer.

Indicates that the volume was never bound.

Edges of the leaves have not been evenly trimmed.

The signatures of the book have not been cut and the folds of the original sheet remain intact. Folds must be cut open manually before they can be read.

A book that is distinguishable from others of the same printing by one or more aspects.

Specially treated sheet of thin calfskin used for binding.

The back side of a leaf (the left hand side of an open book).

Volume, tome.

With all faults. Book is quite damaged, often missing leaves or plates, condition is taken into account when pricing.

Discoloration and sometimes slight wrinkling, bowing or shrinking of the leaves or binding due to exposure to liquid.

The outer covers of a book bound in paper, soft cover.

The edges of a book bound in paper that extends beyond the text block, often bending around it.

The paper cover placed around most modern books to protect the binding, and showcase the book.

Front endpaper

Front free endpaper

Front paste down

New  

New, unread, unused and in excellent condition with no missing or damaged pages.

Rare  

There is no single rule that determines whether a book is "rare." Rare books must be relatively hard to find and have collectable value. Merely being old or out of print does not make a book "rare". There are a variety of factors that make a book collectable. Some books are collected for their binding, while others for the presence of the artist's or author's signature. Often only the first edition of a particular title is collected. Many books are sought because the information or art contained in them cannot be found elsewhere.

Used  

These are quality reading copies in good to very good condition. There might be an occasional marking, like a previous owner's name, but no underlining or significant damage to pages or binding.