GLOSSARY OF BOOK TERMS

Back matter: pages following text.

Blind stamp: Embossed impression on a book cover without ink or gilt.

Boards: Hardbound book covers

Bookplate: Ownership label in a book

Copyright page: Reverse of the title page, also called the “verso.”

Detent: blind stamp used on bottom of rear board to designate a book club edition. Little known outside bookseller’s circles, finding this can save you from paying too much for a “first edition” that is worth much less than a regular first edition.

Endpapers: Papers preceding and following the front matter, text and back matter of a book.

Ex-library/ex libris: A book formerly in a library/books formerly owned usually followed by the owner’s or former owner’s name

First edition: First appearance of a work, for the most part, independently, between its own covers.

First impression: Synonymous with “First edition.”

First issue: synonymous with “First Edition.”

First printing: Product of the initial print run of a work; is either a “First Edition,” or “First Thus.”

Foxing: Age darkening of paper, also called “age toning.”

Free end paper (FEP): Blank page(s) between endpaper and front and back matter.

Front Free Endpaper (FFEP): right side of the endpaper, the first blank right-hand page when you open a book

Front matter: Pages preceding text.

Half-binding: Usually used with leather as “half-leather” or cloth as “half cloth.” Spine and corners are in leather or cloth.

Half-Title: page before title page, contains book title only

Jacket: Printed or unprinted paper wrapped around a book, also called dust jacket or dust wrapper.

Leaves: Single pages of a bound book.

Marginalia: Notes printed in the margin.

N.d. (no date): Indicates the book has no date of publication or copyright.

N.p. (no place): Indicates a book has no printed place of publication.

O.p. Book is no longer available new.

Pastedown: left side of the endpaper–that is, the paper lining of the inside front cover.

Plate: Illustration printed on special paper and bound with the book.

Points: Additions, deletions or errors that result in identifying points.

Quarter binding: spine covered in cloth or leather.

Rebind: A book rebound from the original.

Recto: Right hand page, usually used to refer to the title page.

Remainder: Publisher’s overstock sold cheaply.

Remainder mark: Any marking used to identify a remaindered book. Often a black ink stripe on bottom of text block.

Reprint: All printings after the first.

Review copy: Gratis copy of a book sent out for review.

Slip-case: A box manufactured to hold a particular book.

State: A change that occurs during a print run, such as the correction of a typo, or a change in the binding or dust jacket.

Tip in: A leaf added on a single page, or glued to a blank page.

Title page: Page which gives the title, author, publisher, etc., referred to as the “recto.”

Uncut: Leaves that have not been machine cut.

Unopened: Folded edges that have not been cut.

Vanity press: A publisher subsidized by the author.

Variant: Points or states without a known priority.

Verso: Left hand page identified with the copyright page.

Wrapper: Separate jacket, or the covers of a paperbound book.