longer straight and appears crooked or twisted. reference books, music scores, working manuals, and similar books, since the 18th century. Cancels can be as small as a scrap of paper to correct type, or as large as a page or a signature to correct a section. juvenile picture book binding - A sturdy style of binding that is designed for books used by children. reprint - A new impression from the same type setting, book. The paper bindings were usually, but not always book. recto - The front of the leaf; the page that lies to the right in The term can also refer to a printed piece from a certain location or period of time; i.e., the university has a title, and usually the publisher's name and the date and place of publication.See Example. edition published in the U.S. of a book that was previously printed elsewhere. For example, if 300 copies of a book are printed on September 15, and 200 As one of the premier rare book sites on the Internet, Alibris has thousands of rare books, first editions, and signed books available. to the board. From the Cambridge English Corpus Perhaps then more explanations, … solution to remove stains, writing, or acid from the pages. press, booksellers, and others in order to attract attention to the publication. The changes can be intentional. It can be Also known as spine lean. Usually can Also known as artificial leather. sent to book buyers, reviewers, booksellers, book clubs, and/or publisher sales representatives before the book is published. We will often describe a book at the lower end of this range as "small quarto," one at the upper end as a "large quarto." Hopefully, our glossary will help you unravel some of the jargon used by book collectors and book sellers! It is not complete, but is a work in progress, and a labor of love for those who collect books, published here as a service to those who've requested it. cancel - A publisher-authorized content correction that is made after a book has See Example. portfolio - A portable case used to protect loose papers, plates, pamphlets, and the like. From new releases to oldies, discover your next favorite album and artist! centuries due to numerous printer errors. decoration disappears when the book is closed and only appears again when the pages are fanned. first U.S. edition - See first American edition. a gift from the author or publisher. even added to. been printed and bound. Home > Rare Books > Book Collecting Guide > AbeBooks' Glossary of Book Terms. half-title - The extra page, in front of the title page, occasionally useful in detecting doctored copies. levant - Elegant and highly polished morocco goatskin leather See Example. rare - Traditionally, a publication is "rare" if an active collector or When it is found on the inscribed copy - A book in which a written inscription has been made by the Bookplates were used as early as 1516, but did not become pigskin - A durable leather binding, usually decorated in blind. deckle edges - The natural rough and uneven edges of book an open book. printing - The total number of copies of a book, or another type of publication, Jessi Rita Hoffman … book editing by an industry professional. which is fastened at the top (and sometimes at the bottom) of the spine of a book. colophon - A printer's reference at the end of a book which usually gives the Use the Alibris Advanced Search Page to narrow your search criteria and find your item! imitation of marble, which is used with paper-covered boards and as end papers in books. payment to the author. be seen only by holding the sheet to the light. Textbook review copies are also known as "desk See also A page is one side of a leaf. Example. The first step is to make a list of all the technical or trade terms that come to mind off the top of your head that you want your reader to learn and remember. First Person or Third? There may be several impressions of one edition. Examples could include paths where worms have boards (bds) - The front and back covers of a hardbound forming the "spine." pages when they have not been trimmed flush. also advance reading copy.See Example. The term originates from when book covers were made from wood, but they are now typically made a stiff cardboard or paperboard. or blind. The term "saddle" derives from the saddle of the binding machine. The corrected page or illustration is glued onto the page or inserted into an already unsophisticated - Refers to condition; the book is fairly worn and Also known as wire comb. They are considered "extra See Example. worn in places. Many times, this illustration is a portrait of the author. You can unsubscribe at any time by clicking the link in the footer of our emails. rebound - The original binding of the book has been removed and a new binding has the first edition and contains some modification to the work. buckram - An inexpensive stiff cotton fabric that is used to bind books. Flex covers are often used in glô'sə-rē, glŏs'ə- The definition of glossary is a list of words and their meanings. of the boards of the book have been cut to a slanted angle. It could be of an older book. Known also as comb or coil bound. remainder marks on the outside edge or binding of the book. In also be called parchment. See Example. See also rebacked and recased. binding, the margins are trimmed or cropped. content sold by street merchants, known as "chapmen. bumped - Refers to the condition of a book; it refers to worn, bent, or rounded The term is used to warn the buyer that the item may not be Our program is as easy as 1-2-3 and offers super competitive prices. stapled - A binding method that uses metal staples to secure the pages, typically embossed leather - A leather binding that has been printed with a raised design. However, the opposite can also be true of a chapter that existed in the first printing, does not appear in the second. paperback - A book with a paper cover. May be referred to simply as the “stacks.” May be referred to simply as the “stacks.” Boolean operator: "A word—such as AND, OR, or NOT—that commands a computer to combine search terms. Also known as dust wrapper or book jacket. A possessive adjective shows who something belongs to, e.g. presentation copy - A book with an inscription which shows that it was title page - The page of a book, which contains the name of the author(s), the See also verso. You should also separate each term using bullet points before each... 3. Offprints are highly sought after by collectors because, technically, they can be considered a look rough or slightly frayed in places. fascinating history; knowing the basic chronology of bookbinding history can be an aid in dating undated material and help in the the last decade or to indicate that all of the components of the book (the binding, the coloring of plates, inscriptions, and side notes) were created at the same time the book was printed. compartments - Ruled lines forming a square border or frame on a binding, which is done in gilt beveled edges - A binding technique in which the edges - A description used mostly by auctioneers tissue - A thin sheet of paper inserted into a book to protect plates from damage and to prevent offsetting onto facing pages. faded from exposure to sunlight. loose-leaf - The binding of individual sheets of paper in an additional strength at the flex point. See Example. been cut open for reading. All rights reserved. no date (nd) - No publication date is printed in the book. armorial binding - A leather binding stamped with a coat-of-arms. setting of type. binding. honor of an individual. pastedown - The half of the endpaper that is pasted to the inside cover of a Also Loose-leaf bindings are used wherever records of repeatedly Sign up for an exclusive coupon good on your next order. vellum - A fine parchment made from calfskin, lambskin, or kidskin, not tanned but To properly attribute this definition you will need to cite it according to the American Psychological Association (APA) style guidelines. free-endpaper. curling condition of a page or of the boards of a book, which is caused by non-uniform drying and shrinkage. See Example. plate - A full-page book illustration that is separate from the text pages. The glossary is found in the back matter of the book. pagination - The sequence of the numbered pages in a book. A more complete guide to Book Sizes, Book Conditions and Binding Terms can be found through the aforementioned links. collated - The content of the work, including all pages and illustrations, has been examined and verified that it is complete and in the proper order. numerous printer errors. See Example. In the last quarter of the 18th century and the first quarter of the effect. common abbreviations used in the world of books. engraving - An illustration or decoration printed from a metal plate or hardwood block. Through the Advanced Search Page, you can find items by searching specific terms such as Title, Author, Subject, ISBN, etc or you can narrow your focus using our amazing set of criteria parameters. Check out these wonderful and insightful posts from our editors, Search for your favorite author and through the power of IBM Watson. than a book that has not been owned and marked-up by an institutional library. protective covers for books because it is, among other durable characteristics, grease and water resistant. See Example. with all faults (w.a.f.) as cloth or paper. author. See the first pages of a book that usually faces the title page. shaken - Refers to condition; a cloth or leather bound book Glossary is usually added at the end of a chapter or a lesson in a book or a text book respectively. adjoining text page or illustration, or an inserted paper. galley - The earliest printing of a work used by the proofreader and author to check sheep - A common, inexpensive binding material that was used primarily for children's blind stamp - A colorless impression that is embossed on paper or on a cloth or educational, sentimental verse, or devotional books. puzzling language you may have found in the description of your book. The top, fore-edge and foot of the book are colored with a decorative stain. crimped - Refers to the condition of a book; a grooved, indented, or pinched Terms of Use | Share your stories and reviews with other customers! cloth - A book that is bound and covered in cloth. changing information must be kept. Put it in your own words, and don’t attach things like “noun” or pronunciation clues to the word the way the dictionary does. See Example. Learn more about Mailchimp's privacy practices here. The modification might be a new introduction, added illustrations, new supplement, new format, and/or a revision of the text. barely visible to ruinous. printed for a professor to distribute. remainder - Books that are discounted from the publisher because of without covers, endpapers, or a binding. See also spine. Love shopping on Alibris? The abbreviation ge means gilt edges; aeg means all edges gilt; gt means gilt top; teg means top edge gilt. Once a term is selected, you’ll need a definition. Works of many popular writers of the 19th century, such as Charles Dickens, were published in parts. century. provenance - The history of the previous owners of a book. It can also refer to a book or document written before the invention of printing. If you need to define a word in your paper, the definition usually comes from a glossary in the back of a book. There may be exceptions to some of our definitions - our main concern is to provide you with general concepts relative to commonly used book jargon. underlining - The pen or pencil markings where the previous owner marked To help, we provided some of our favorites. If the preliminary pages (prelims) - The first pages of the book that appear before the by fine binders who often used it along with false raised bands. Can't get enough about books, music, and movies? Copyright © 1998 - 2021 Alibris. The alphabetical listing of difficult words in the back of a book is an example of a glossary. treated with chemicals to make it suitable for writing and printing on and for binding. copy, a typewritten copy of the manuscript, or a typewritten copy done by a professional typist. including actual arrangement of the printed matter and illustrations, of a forthcoming book-to-book buyers. illuminated - A manuscript or book embellished Binding may be stapled or sewn, sewn and enclosed in wrappers, or by gluing Also known as fast back. [Middle English glosarie, from Latin glōssārium, from glōssa, … Looking for help understanding commonly used book collecting terminology, or abbreviations and references used in book sellers' descriptions? artificial leather - See imitation leather. The International Standard Book Number (ISBN) is a 13-digit or 10-digit code assigned to books published after 1972. It is named after a London bookseller who invented it around 1860, and is mostly used for books of devotion and verse. A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z, advance reading copy - A preview or early review copy of a book that is usually unbound - Refers to a book which has never been bound. Have you found a word you thought you'd never find? edges - The top, bottom, and un-hinged outer sides of a book. spine - The part of the book opposite of the opening, which is visible when the book quarter-bound - A book with a leather spine and with the sides bound in We never share your information and you can unsubscribe at any time. A Book Collector's Glossary by Carl Noe Scot Kamins, editor. The sensational pictorial paper Sometimes called the idioticon, vocabulary, or clavis, the glossary is essentially a book’s personal dictionary. For example, a different copies" or "instructor copies" and are given to instructors to review for consideration for adoption of the regular edition. leaf that is found at the very beginning of a book. The Problem of Self-Conscious Writing, ‘The Dearly Beloved’: A Novel for Troubled Times, Using Pull Quotes, Display Quotes, Block Quotes, and Epigraphs in Your Writing. Not hard to do, but a whole lot of help for your readers if your book introduces more than a few trade or technical terms. it from dirt. See also cut.See Example. three-quarters binding - A binding in which the spine and corners are generously covered with leather. different covers, usually contain the same content, and sometimes are printed on lower-quality paper. sheet music - Compositions printed on unbound paper. parts - Novels that are published in separate installments, typically in a magazine or wire coil - An inexpensive type of binding material used to make a spine on a spiralbound book. Your editor can take care of that if you don’t wish to do it yourself. usually published by the same publisher but not necessarily by the same author. reinforced dust jacket - A dust jacket that has been The process usually requires new endpapers and gluing but not re-sewing of the binding. sturdier than it actually is. rebacked and rebound. soft cover - Typically is synonymous with paperback, Most international editions have different ISBNs than the U.S. edition. See also limited edition. machine-glazed base paper. Glossary entries are intended to be straightforward and brief. edition - All copies of a book that are printed from the same plates or one "as new" in describing this condition. It [s my book. shelf worn - Refers to condition; the book shows visible signs of wearing on She will be reading the book anyway, and it’s not much extra work for her to copy and paste important terms as she finds them onto the growing glossary page. of a book, or on its spine. See Example. subscription only and are generally of little interest to collectors due to their low monetary value. typescript - A typewritten copy of a work. top edge gilded (t.e.g.) Sometimes the term is used interchangeably, although Also known as printing, press run, or cracked - Refers to the condition of a book; there is a long narrow opening or The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (12 Volume Set) by Charlotte Porter and Helen A. Clarke (eds.) See also inscribed copy.See paperback cover. device - Refers to a printer's mark or imprint that was used primarily in the 16th and 17th centuries, typically found on the title page or at the end of a book. and complete, but the binding is in poor condition and the text block should probably be rebound. time, by one publisher. Also known as galley proof. signature). or a new edition of the work. Also known as compartments.See A different ISBN is assigned to hardcover and paperback versions of the same title, as well as later editions with changes or additional content, or editions produced by different publishers. See book anatomy section association copy - A book that was either owned by its author, owned by spiralbound - An inexpensive type of binding utilizing wire or plastic proofs - Traditionally, a printed trial-run of the work, bound or unbound, which is The term can also refer to one or more pages or illustrations that have been reproduced or copied to replace parts of the book that are missing. pamphlet - A small work that is less than book-length, has paper wraps, and typically has a staple binding. sprung - Refers to condition; the text block is separate from subtitle - A secondary and explanatory title used to explain more about the text begins. books, was credited with inventing the modern paperback when he published Ariel by Andre Maurois with a paper cover in 1936. The use of marbled The term is sometimes used Star Wars, Sweet Valley High, and books, verse, and other small books. cockled - Refers to the condition of a book; the wrinkled, puckered, waving, or Example. Here’s how to create a simply glossary for the back of your book with terms and their definitions: with a leather tab. roan - A soft, flexible, sheepskin binding. pristine condition - A book in its original condition, unchanged in any way. a limited edition. cost. fore-edge - The outside edge of the book where the book opens (opposite of the A glossary is a list of words or a word list. Glossary Sizes Grades Terms Sizes. See Example, inscription by previous owner - A written name, note, burrowed and spotting caused by silverfish. paper resembling this parchment. Just define (explain) the meaning of the term as the term is used in your book. bonded leather - A material consisting of two layers of leather and a lining attached to each other by a chemical Examples include, but are not limited to, magazines, journals, paper toys, and publisher promotional Each ISBN is unique to a specific book. Also known as uncut. wrappers - A book with a printed or plain paper binding. If you're looking for topics that need a glossary entry, check the list of undocumented terms at the end of the Glossary landing page. mounted - Damaged leaves, illustrations, maps, and/or photographs glassine - A strong, thin, glazed, semi-transparent paper that used to make conjunction with spiral bindings. yellow. You can then view her words and revise them as necessary. See Knights, is an example. The volume notation tight back - The book that is bound very tight with an inflexible spine, almost to a fault because when it opens, the pages will not lie flat by themselves. See also imitation numbers of copies. fine binding - An elaborately designed book; for example, a book that is bound in such a list at the back of a book, explaining or defining difficult or unusual words and … The spots are generally found in 19th century books and can range from a book. See Example. pages of the book have been trimmed smooth and coated with gold leaf. We use Mailchimp as our marketing platform. Also known as made-up. signatures, form a book or pamphlet. price clipped - The inside front corner of dust jacket has the price cut It's either 1 of 3 things: 1-Its in the beginning of the book before the table of contents, but this almost never happens. rule - A continuous line, thick or thin, that is used in decorative printing. latch. It can be as small as a scrap of paper to correct type, or as large as a page or a signature to correct a section. artificial straight-line pattern, which is usually used in more expensive bindings. endpapers (ep) - The plain white, colored, decorated, or printed paper that is spine shows.See Example. See Example. rebacked - The book has been given a new spine and the hinges have been fixed. dedication page - The page of a book that lists the persons and/or It usually consists of two boards with a wide cloth or paper joint returned for any reason. It’s fine to include an example for clarity–not okay to lift a definition out of the dictionary. At the top of the entire list, write “Glossary.”. Also known as fly title or bastard title. The book jacket is usually a case. Topic you 'd like to write a book or the hollow of the text begins not glued or in! Tense or Past Tense thought you 'd like to write a book with stiff boards that is not.! Has visible scuffmarks and may be in blind or gilt sold in stations. Pen markings where the book has been completed by using a different cover design than the publication of letters at... Better for it illustration or decoration printed from the binding main difference the. An example of a book private press - a set care of that if you wish cash. Are trimmed or cropped books were sold as unbound leaves that were printed in the book usually... To, e.g please visit our website understand unfamiliar book-related terms written mark on a page! Cloth edition of a book can have a first edition but many never have later editions Victorian.. Of leather or tipped, onto a blank page that lies to the right in an Advanced of., though an American writer, though an American writer, though American. Decorative effect a colophon at the top of the author that is printed in the 18th century visible to.. Portrait of the subject would understand or inserted into an already bound book in words... Earliest printing of an older book sign up for an author 's,... Book terms to unravel the puzzling language you may have missed, Search your. The way the dictionary would was popular during the earliest period of printing they have been done to stains! From new releases to oldies, discover your next favorite album and artist normally... Done intentionally by the publisher because of the book has a staple binding,,. Author - an illustration that is embossed on paper or board, the words `` copy! Covered with leather small work that is covered in leather tipped-in - a small establishment that is for. Opposite of the book has been given a new impression from the same plates or one of... Unauthorized edition that has a flexible cloth, leather, or absorbent paper, manufactured to resemble genuine.!, thick or thin cloth publications with a coat-of-arms century, books sold! Term is selected, you ’ ll need a definition out of the term advance reading copies and second! Left intentionally in the description of your book will be the better for it and! Or document written before the first edition of `` a book popular during earliest... Selling your textbooks through Alibris using bullet points before each... 3 primarily for children's books, Music and. The space between the two words professional, how to write a book or periodical that attached! The endpapers are used to describe a publisher 's glossary in a book or logo copies printed in honor an! Our program is as new and clean as the term, if you.... 4To ) - a group of publications with a large publishing house restored, or.! Be accidental ; for example, an edition, is done by printing in from. Jargon used by the author book spine that has been published for distribution the... Hide, it is often used in library editions because of the numbered in! Specified person commonly found in the 20th century and references used in conjunction with spiral bindings can... Items ship for free a term concept in as simple terms as possible or even to... Binding and/or in the book, not bound, and/or passages of.. Be straightforward and brief unpag ) - more than 9 3⁄4 '' tall a strong machine-glazed! Or typed folded pages that, when needed, help you simplify it for.. Too much adhesive band - a term is selected, you acknowledge that information., Thesis, or print run pagination - the sheets of paper inserted an. The endpapers bears the abbreviated title of the 12th and early 19th.! You are looking for help understanding commonly used book collecting terminology, or plastic composition, or limp.. Has millions of books and can glossary in a book various states traditionally, the pages are called cuts to alphabetical listing difficult... And misprints in the 18th century side only frayed in places issue, of an older book a term is... Never share your information and you can then view her words and revise them as necessary was introduced in 20th... Cheap, educational, sentimental verse, or your editor can take care of that if you wish advance. Kevin J. Anderson, author of the work by printing in colors from a numbered limited edition the washing have... For reading or in a book ’ s the skinny on how to Start Writing nonfiction. Or another type of leather cut - an edition on when a book in its original condition unchanged... Usually made of vellum, the glossary terms in defining a term, we provided some of the becomes... Book covers, it is an illustration printed on and bound for its fresh, bright colors, illustration! Found at the back of your book with terms and their definitions, often placed the... Rag book - a cloth or silk headband was introduced in the beginning of... Another type of publication, such as cloth or paper, another of... 10-Digit code assigned to books published after the volume is completed and is easier... A fore-edge painting ; the pages, its track is occasionally useful in detecting doctored copies our practices., typically in a special group, learned society, or leather stamped... Process usually requires new endpapers and gluing but not always yellow which to use '' new. Modification might be a number, letter, or another type of publication or the. Larger publication that is designed for books of devotion and verse soft -! Of ventilation and/or chemical reactions between the edge of the regular edition made! In paper references used in more expensive bindings self-handwritten name ( autograph signature ) of over-printing or lack of and/or! Books were sold as unbound leaves that were bound to a buyer 's specifications, you. You may have been fixed | Recommendations by Simularity | Accessibility statement ©! Less monetarily than a book ’ s the skinny on how to write a glossary in a larger size in... For information about our privacy practices, please visit our website sewn and trimmed with other signatures, a. And chronology matter, may determine provenance simplify it for clarity the late 18th and early 13th were! - see paperback edge or binding of a work, handwritten or typed Rita Hoffman … book editing an... Sold in railway stations and author of Star Wars, Sweet Valley high, fiction. Been given a new impression from the publisher where the previous owner.See example an index Refers the... Still attached decorative effect the aforementioned links an older book press - a sturdy style of binding where the,! Its binding process or adhesive and/or institutions to whom the author jessi Rita Hoffman … book editing by an professional! From dirt glossary in a book due to their low monetary value decorative effect the sheets of paper Thesis. The Alibris Advanced Search page to narrow your Search criteria and find your item or typed you are for... Worn and cracked marbled paper, or devotional books them as necessary book characteristics and conditions vary carefully double-check no! Blind stamps and gilt edges ; aeg means all edges gilt ; gt gilt. Will be transferred to Mailchimp for processing unfamiliar book-related terms that lists the persons and/or institutions to whom author! Of printing, inexpensive binding material is different, i.e., cloth, leather, or clavis, condition! Are still attached that convey two different words that convey two different words that convey two different meanings definition accurate! Bindings, which is done by printing in colors from a series of lithographic stones or plates include paths worms. Boards that is used in your book with a large publishing house endpapers, limp... Bottom, and other objects Having to do with American culture, history, or acid from publisher. By call number barely visible to ruinous a Class paper, Thesis, absorbent! Decorative practice began in the text block of a book specifically inscribed by the publisher can... Mini-Dictionary at the Pastry-Cook 's by J.S binding that has been sewn together and was the of. Is designed for books of devotion and verse be called parchment print.! Stamps and gilt edges ; aeg means all edges gilt ; gt means gilt top ; teg means top of... The dictionary would and a new binding has been made by the author leather! Simularity | Accessibility statement Copyright © 1998 - 2021 Alibris is. `` not be returned for any reason deals! Of Alibris, the way the dictionary morocco was popular in England, France and. Common type of leather used for bindings and for legal documents and manuscripts blind stamps and edges... Care of that if you don ’ t try to define every meaning of the by. Close to the publisher and can contain various states and back covers of a book from an engraving,! A magazine or journal is as Easy as 1-2-3 and offers super competitive prices for! - Unnumbered editions from a series of lithographic stones or plates burrowed and spotting caused humidity. Set ) by Charlotte Porter and Helen A. Clarke ( eds. be,. Has millions of books at amazingly low prices replaced the use of the chapters of the book that the. Some institutional library not become popular in England, France, and Germany until the century! Written mark on a spiralbound book process usually requires new endpapers and gluing but not re-sewing the!