GLOSSARY OF BOOK TERMS AND ABBREVIATIONS
Descriptive terms and abbreviations:
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Book Conditions
Book Terms Glossary
Spine and small portion of the outer corners of book are bound in leather. The rest of the boards are covered with cloth, or quite frequently marbled paper.
Spine is bound in leather.
First appearance of a work independently between its own covers. Our use always refers to the first impression of the first edition of a book. Books could be first editions, 3rd impression, for example. We, and any responsible book dealer, would refer to that copy as a 3rd edition.
The first edition in this form.
The first edition printed for general sale. On occassion a book will have a special edition printed prior to the 1st trade edition, in which case 1st trade edition is noted. Otherwise a 1st edition should be a first printing of the first edition.
Spine and a large portion of the outer corners of book are bound in leather. The rest of the boards are covered with cloth, or quite frequently marbled paper.
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.
The part of the back end paper that is not pasted down, creating a leaf.
The part of the end paper that is pasted down to the inside of the front board.
Cover of the book. See also: boards, wrappers, and cloth.
An impressed mark raising a pattern, decoration or lettering in paper or cloth, made by a tool specifically for that purpose.
An ownership label, usually pasted on the front end papers.
The wood, pasteboard, strawboard, chipboard or any other base for the sides of any bound or cased book, for example, hard bound books.
A book club edition should always be called out. While certainly a reading copy that may be in fine condition, a book club edition of a book is rarely considered collectible.
Small dent or similar damaged to the spine, corner or along board edges of a book. Often caused because the book was dropped or carelessly shelved.
Leather made from the hide of a calf, the most common type of leather in bookbinding.
Small pieces of a layer of the dust jacket or binding that have broken off.
A tear which has been closed with tape on the underside of the dust jacket.
Binding consisting of cloth covered boards.
The spine is no longer square. This often occurs because a book has not been shelved properly for a period of time.
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.
Uneven edges on a book printed on hand-made paper that has not been trimmed. Sometimes it is simulated on machine made paper for an aesthetic look.
A tiny bump or dent.
The text block has been separated from the binding. The thread holding the text block together might also be removed.
The paper cover placed around most modern books to protect the binding, and showcase the book.
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.
Non-book printed material of transitory interest, usually pamphlets, programs, broadsides, post cards, etc.
A term indicating the book once belonged to a library, often with stamps on the covers, on the text and on the plates. Also may have a pocket glued to the front or more likely the back end paper.
The half of the endpaper pasted down to the inside of the cover of the front board.
First appearance of a work independently between its own covers. Our use always refers to the first impression of the first edition of a book. Books could be first editions, 3rd impression, for example. We, and any responsible book dealer, would refer to that copy as a 3rd edition.
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.
Refers to brown rusty looking spots or staining to the leaves, caused by a chemical reaction, most commonly found in 19th century books.
Fep……..Front Endpaper
Front Endpaper:
The part of the front end paper that is not pasted down, creating a leaf. Also known as front fly leaf.
The part of the front end paper that is not pasted down, creating a leaf. Also known as front end paper.
The part of the end paper that is pasted down to the inside of the front board.
An illustration placed at the beginning of a book and facing the title page.
Full leather binding.
Text block edge or edges have been cut smooth and gilded, i.e. covered with a thin layer of gold leaf. This not only added to the look of a book, but was done to keep the dust out.
A transparent dust jacket.
The average used book. Obviously read but not mistreated.
Inner margin.
The page preceding the title page containing the title (often abbreviated). Verso often blank but can have the printer’s imprint or in more modern books, a list of other works by the same author or publisher.
A decorative band placed into the head (and sometimes foot) of the spine and the leaves. It can be structurally important to the binding, or mere dressing.
The bottom of the spine. Same as “Tail”.
The part of the book where the cover connects with the spine. Historically this term referred to the inside and “joint” referred to the outside. But both terms have come to be used interchangably.
Used to denote a book signed by the author or artist, with a note to the recipient
The part of the book where the cover connects with the spine. Historically this term referred to the outside and “hinge” referred to the inside. But both terms have come to be used interchangably.
Paper or letter or other ephemera inserted, but not glued, into a book.
A sheet of paper in a book. The sheet creates 2 pages, one on the front and one on the back.
A book that is published with some exclusive point(s) which might have to do with the binding, or copies signed by the author or illustrator. Limited editions usually have a limitation page indicating how many were printed for the edition and each is separately signed.
The text block has become loose in its binding, usually the result of the book being treated carelessly but it can also result from inadequate binding.
Paper decorated with a marble pattern, often used for endpapers or on boards.
First editions of books published in the 20th century or later.
Denotes a book with no publication date listed.
Denotes a book with no place of publication or publisher listed.
The transfer of ink from one printed sheet to another, or oxidation from the proceeding page’s text block or image block creating a brown pattern on the adjacent page. Offset can also result from in item, like a newspaper clipping, whose shape is created on the opposite page through oxidation.
A tear that has not been repaired.
One side of a leaf.
A book that is originally published as a paperback, instead of being a reprint of a book originally published in hardback.
The half of the endpaper pasted down to the inside of the cover.
Whole page illustrations printed on separate paper and usually inserted into 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.
A pre publication copy of the book for the use of editors and reviewers, usually bound in plain printed wrappers.
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.
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.
A new book that is returned to a publisher as unsold. The publisher then puts a remainder mark on the book and resells it at a discounted price.
When a publisher sells a book as a remainder, the remainder status is indicated by an ink stamp, marker line or spray of paint on one or more of the book’s edges. It can be subtle or annoyingly loud.
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.
In the good sense of the word stained, the publisher has colored the edge or edges of the book on purpose. For example, the 1st edition of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory calls for the top edge to be chocolate colored (some describe it as puce). This kind of staining might be called out as a description point. If on the other hand, someone has spilled coffee or some other substance that has accidently stained an edge – well, that would be the bad sense of the word. That kind of staining should be called out as a defect.
Like “Tender, ” the binding is beginning to loosen a bit.
Browning, yellowing, other discoloring or fading caused by exposure to the sun.
Bottom of spine. Also called Heel.
Like “Starting,” the binding is just beginning to loosen.
All the pages between the covers.
Refers to a method of inserting plates, leaves, or illustrations, by which either each corner or one side 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 edges of pages are cut smooth and gilded to protect from dust.
The publishers colored stain applied to the top edge. (See “Stained edge”)
Regularly published edition, distinguishable from a limited edition.
The paperback edition of a book published by the same publisher. Often trade paperback are much larger and of better quality than the mass-market paperback.
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 differences. It can be something as simple as the color of the binding.
The back side of a leaf (the left hand side of an open book).
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.
Book Condition terms
A brand-new, unused, unread copy in perfect condition.
A book showing significant wear.
A book that may have some light shelf wear.
A copy that shows an average amount of wear but remains in clean condition. All pages are intact, and the cover is intact. Dust jacket, if present, will be intact. The spine may show signs of wear. Might include bookplates, limited notes and highlighting, but if it does they should be called out in the description.
Near Fine:
A book with little to no defects but may have some light shelf wear.
All text pages are present but the book appears very worn and may have serious scuffing, soiling or marking. Generally we would only offer books in this condition if we thought it was scarce enough that a collector might want it to have rebacked, or a customer would like to have the book but could never afford it in primo condition. Also known as reading copy.
All text pages are present but the book appears very worn and may have serious scuffing, soiling or marking. Generally we would only offer books in this condition if we thought it was scarce enough that a collector might want it to have rebacked, or a customer would like to have the book but could never afford it in primo condition.
A copy that shows wear but no major defects of any kind. Any flaws should be called out.