Book Terminology

It can be quite confusing reading a book description with the vast amount of book terms used on the internet these days. Here we try to help

Book Terminology

Bibliography

A list of the authors work or on a particular subject.

Binding

Usually refers to the book covers for hardback books. The different types of binding can be Cloth, Leather or Paper Covered Boards. Also used to described how the book pages are held, for example Glued, Sewn, Stapled.

Full Binding
The full book is bound in leather.

Three Quarter Binding
The book spine and corners and bound in leather, which covers 3/4 of the top edge of the book, the rest of the book bound in other material.

Half Binding
The book spine and corners are bound again in leather, but this time only 1/2 of the top edge of the book is covered, with the rest of the book again bound in other material.

Quarter Binding
Either the book spine or book corners only are covered in leather, covering only 1/4 of the top edge of the book.

Blurb

A brief description of the book, usually including a review from another author or magazine editor. Usually featured on the back cover of paperbacks or the inside flap of hardback books with dust jackets.

Boards

The actual hard cover of the book, underneath the binding.

Book Jacket

Usually called a dust jacket or dust wrapper. A method of protecting the books hard cover and binding.

Book Plate

A label pasted to usually the inside cover or first page of a book to show ownership.

Browning

Pages browning in colour due to age.

Bumped

Usually referring to the corners of a book or the head and tail of the spine. When used in descriptions it can mean the areas are worn, have been knocked, are bent etc.

Circa

If a book is undated, it is an approximate date used.

Cocked

If, when looking down on the head of a book, the corners are not square it is said to be cocked or rolled. Also known as a spine slant or spine lean.

Copyright Page

Usually found on the back of the title page, giving information on the copyright and publisher, aswell as information on the books editions and reprinting.


Dog Eared

The corners of a page has been folded in the past.

Dust Jacket

See above Book Jacket.

Edges

See Diagram above.

Embossed

A pattern/design on the hard cover that is raised.

End Paper

The blank page at the front and end of the book. One side is free (usually called 'free end paper') with the other side glued to the inside of the hard cover.

Fading

Loss of colour due to the sun or age.

First Edition

All of the copies printed from the first setting of type; can include multiple printings if all are from the same setting of type. Every printed book has a first edition, many never have later editions. A later edition would have substantial changes in the printing plates or type such as the addition of a new preface or new chapter or major changes throughout the text and often is printed from a complete resetting of the type. When book collectors use the term first edition, they are usually referring to the first printing and if there are different states or issues, the earliest of those.

Fly Leaf

The blank pages at the front and end of the book between the hard cover and the printed pages of a book.

Foxing

Brown spotting on the pages of the book due to a number of factors.

Frontispiece

An illustration or picture placed opposite the title page.

Gilted

Use of thin layer of gold leaf to areas of the book. Can be used to page edges, spine and title of the hard cover.

Grooves

The soft join where the book spine and the book boards meet on the outside of the book.

Gutter

The middle of an opened book. See Diagram above.

Hinge

The joint where the book spine and the book cover meet inside the book.

Inscription

A message written in the book usually at the front.

Joint

The exterior hinge where the book spine and the book cover meet. See Diagram above.

Plate

An illustration or picture on its own page.

Price Clipped

The inner flap has been cut to remove the price.

Rubbed

Where the hard cover or jacket has patches of no colour due to wear.

Shaken

Where the pages of the book are becoming loose but still remained attached to the binding.

Starting

Indicates the page or pages beginning to loosen but not to the extent of 'Shaken'.

Slip Case

A protective box which has an opened end where the books are slipped into.

Sunned

Where the book is faded or discoloured due to sun exposure.

Tears
Closed Tear - A clean tear with no pieces missing.
Open Tear - A tear with some material missing.

Tipped In

Partially pasted down photograph, picture, diagram etc.

Title Page

Usually the first printed page of a book, showing the full book title, author details, plus any additional information relating to the book.