Adapted from glossaries of the International Online Booksellers Association and the California State Library.

ADVANCE READING COPY
A special pre-publication issue published in wrappers. Issued for publicity purposes. Occasionally there are textual differences between an advance reading copy and a first edition. Usually in pictorial wraps similar to the dust jacket art that is to be used on the first trade edition. Preceded by an advance uncorrected proof copy which is usually in plain colored wrappers.

AGE
Age does not immediately translate into value. The value of rare books is determined by demand, condition and edition. Obviously, valuable books may in fact be old, but age is not the first consideration.

ASSOCIATION COPY
Book once belonging to the author, signed or annotated by the author, or someone associated with the author of book in some way. Book inscribed by author to famous person, or owned by someone of interest, or someone connected to the book or author.

AUTHORS EDITION
Book authorized by author, usually foreign editions, around the turn of the last century when many titles were pirated or "unauthorized".

BEVELED BOARDS
Usually found on older books with thick boards (covers). The covers of the book have a sloping edge. More common with published in Great Britain.

BINDING
Material used as a protective cover for a book. Leather was commonly used to cover boards. Most modern books are described as cloth or boards. It simply indicates a hardback casing. Wrappers refers to books, which are not hard bound, usually paperbacks. Leather was a commonly used practice to cover the boards.

BLIND (STAMPED or TOOLED)
Impressed into paper or binding with no color, leaving an impression only.

BLURB
The sales pitch or catalog description of an item for sale. Often a reviewer’s quote printed on a dust jacket.

BOARDS
The front and back covers of a hardcover book. The term originates from early book covers that were fabricated from slats of wood. The wood was then covered with leather or some type of fabric. Most modern books are constructed using a type of cardboard covered with cloth.

BUCKRAM
A heavy weave of binding cloth.

BUMPED
Usually referring to the crumpled corners of a book that has been damaged by being carelessly banged.

CASE
The covers enclosing a book, usually made of thick cardboard, or a specially made case (box) for a book.

CHECKLIST
A chronological list of all of the titles or books etc., published about or by a specific author or subject.

CHIPPED
Small pieces broken off of a dust jacket or binding.

CIRCA
Usually abbreviated c. or ca. Means ‘about’. Used when actual date is unknown.

CLOSED TEAR
A tear with no material missing. A “clean” tear.

CLOTH.
Another term for a hardbound book.

COATED
Paper is smooth and polished; something has been applied to the surface to make it appear glossy.

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, as the book has become permanently deformed along the spine. Usually caused by long-term storage in an awkward position. It is a difficult condition to correct, since the parts that hold the book together have stretched.

COLLATED
In older (rarer) books, collation is the process of checking a book to verify that it is complete and contains all of its original attributes. Usually done by comparing the book with a bibliographic description.

COLOPHON
A written statement at the end of a manuscript or printed text typically identifying the text, its author, and the circumstances of its copying or printing.

CONDITION
Book rating, or grading, is subjective and depends on the person doing the rating. Sellers will often provide definitions of their rating terms. FOSPL uses:

Fine (F). No flaws, near perfect.

Very good (VG). Shows some wear, no major flaws.

Good (G). Basically, it's all there, but condition is pretty worn. In book parlance, good means “okay”. Some sellers use “Fair” instead.

Reading copy. It looks or smells bad. May have underlining, highlighting, margin notes, etc. For a collector, unless the book is very rare, it may not be worth messing with.

Ex-library. This book has been in a public library. Usually has numbers on spine, card pocket, stamps on edges, etc.

Ex-libris. Book has been in a private library. Usually has a bookplate, may have other marks or stamps.

Descriptions usually give the condition of the book and its dust jacket separately. The book’s condition is always first, for example, “Hardcover, fine, in very good dust jacket” is often abbreviated as “F/VG”, as softcover books rarely, if ever, dust jackets. Sometimes gradations may be indicated with + or -.

COPYRIGHT PAGE
The page that appears on verso of the title page, containing the artistic property protection.

DAMPSTAIN
A stain left on a cover or pages that have been exposed to water. A defect.

DECKLE EDGE
Uneven and uncut edges, often found on books printed on hand-made paper and not trimmed by the binder. Usually on older books but is sometimes used decoratively in modern books. See uncut.

DENTELLE
A lace-like pattern applied to the edges of the cover of the inside border of a book bound in leather.

DIMPLE
An indentation, such as on a golf ball, on covers or pages. Considered a defect, if not part of decorated covers.

DING
A small bump or dent leaving an impression, sometimes caused by careless handling or storage.

DOG-EARED
Worn or ragged, usually referring to the edges of pages and binding. Corners of pages turned down like a dog's ear. Considered a defect.

DUST JACKET or DUSTWRAPPER
(DJ, DW) The separate paper covering for a book. While originally intended for protection, these have become an important part of modern books, often including information about a book not found elsewhere. On highly collectible books, the dust jacket can be worth many times the value of the book it encompasses, as it is often damaged or missing.

EDGES
The three outer sides of the text block when book is closed: fore edge, top edge or head, and bottom edge or foot.

EDITION
All of the copies of a book printed at the same time from the same setting of type. The topic is, however, much more complicated than it first appears.

Every book ever printed was at one time or another a first edition. Technically speaking, after the galleys (printing plates) are removed from the printing press and subsequently put back in for another run, that then becomes a new edition (or printing). In the old days, printers were not at all averse to literally stopping the presses mid-run, pulling the galleys and making their changes (typographical errors, broken type faces or textual alterations) on the fly. The final outcome would be one press run, but with several "states" or "issues" of the first edition.

In the case of Charles Dickens for instance, a first edition, first issue of his "Great Expectations" has hundreds of mistakes or issue points. The more mistakes, the more valuable the book becomes. In order to identify the issue points, you need a descriptive bibliography, which will painstakingly give each issue point, the color of the binding and other pertinent information. Many dealers and collectors enjoy the discovery of issue points.

Identifying first editions is as complex as it is simple. The problem is that each publisher tends to identify its first editions in a different manner. Some publishers make it as easy as stating "first edition"; others make it a cryptic as possible. The problem compounds itself when over the years publishers merge, or change their internal operating procedures. On more recent publications, if you look on the copyright page, you may see a horizontal list of numbers, usually from 0 to 10. Depending on the publisher, the first edition will have all numbers present starting with a 0 or a 1. Subsequent printings will drop the next digit each time the book is republished.

The only way to really tell if a book is a first edition is to have access to the proper reference materials. For identifying most of the publishers in the U.S. and Britain, we recommend First Editions. A Guide to Identification, edited by Edward Zempel (Spoon River Press, $75). This valuable book lists virtually every English language publisher and its methods of stating first editions through the years. Zempel is a must for the serious collector or dealer.

ENDPAPERS
(EP) The blank pages added to the front and back of the book by the binder. These pages are an integral part of the binding of a book, holding the text block and case together. The lack of them drastically shortens the value and life of a book. Free end papers are loose (also known as preliminaries). Those glued to the insides of the covers are called front and rear pastedowns.

EPHEMERA
Those bits of throwaway paper of every day life (e.g., advertising, ticket stubs, programs, some booklets and pamphlets, posters, schedules, etc.) that were never meant for repeated or prolonged use.

ERRATA
A list of errors and their corrections or additions to the printing, found after book has been printed, usually on separate sheet or slip of paper. The plural of erratum.

EX-LIBRARY
Deaccessioned from a public library’s collection.

EX-LIBRIS
Usually found on a bookplate referring to "from the books" of John Doe, etc. From a private library, as opposed to a public library. Could also be a stamp or an emboss.

FACSIMILE
An exact copy of a previously printed work. Generally produced and marketed as such because the original is difficult to obtain and warrants enough interest to publish as an exact copy. Usually a facsimile will be so noted by the publisher. Often used for anniversary editions.

FAIR
A book that is very worn, but all of its important parts, and dust jacket, must be present. May be soiled with tears, endpapers missing, etc. Such defects must be noted in descriptions. See “good” under condition.

FINE
A book that has no defects in book or jacket, but not as crisp as it was when new. See condition.

FIRST EDITION
The first printing of a book, done from the original setting of type. The collectibility of the first edition was established in the early days of printing, when the lead type used in the presses would quickly wear away, compromising the readability of the book being printed.

FIRST THUS
After a book runs its commercial course with its original publisher, the rights are often sold to another printing house. The new publisher may want to stimulate the market for the new edition by embellishing the new book with a particularly popular illustrator, a fancy binding or some other feature. This reprint becomes a first thus or the first edition of a new edition.

FLEXIBLE BINDING
Limp, leather or plastic covers which are flexible.

FLY-LEAVES
Plain papers at front and rear of book after endpapers.

FLY-TITLE
See half-title.

FOOT
The bottom edge of the text block.

FORE EDGE
The right edge opposite the spine.

FORE EDGE PAINTING
A painting on gilded fore edge, which can only be seen by fanning pages. Popular in the 15th and 16th centuries, and occasionally still being done today.

FOXING
The brown discoloration, thought to be caused by impurities in paper, often found on pages and plates of older books. So called due to the color or the fact that it often appears as a cluster of small blotches resembling a fox paw print. Most likely caused by acidification of the paper as a result of sulfuric acid used to bleach the pulp prior to the manufacture of the paper. Not much can be done to alleviate the problem. There is an expensive process to de-acidify the paper, but is generally limited to large, well-endowed institutions.

FREE ENDPAPER
Front and rear blank pages added by the binder, which can be turned as pages.

FRONTISPIECE
The illustration facing title page.

GATHERINGS
The printed sheets, after folding, which are put in order and bound in sequence. As a sheet of printed paper comes off the press, it is folded to form a group of pages put in order with other similar groups, which are then sewn or glued together to form the bulk of the book. The edges are trimmed and ready to be cased (bound). Also known as a signature or quire.

GAUFFERED EDGES
A pattern tooled on gilt edges of book.

GILT EDGES
Page edges cut smooth and gilded (covered with a thin layer of gold leaf) before binding. May be top edge gilt (t.e.g.) or all edges gilt (a.e.g.).

GLASSINE
Transparent paper, usually unprinted, sometimes used as a dust jacket to protect a book.

GOOD
A book, or dust jacket, in average used and worn condition - complete with all its parts. Note all defects in descriptions. See condition.

GUTTER
Inner margins of two facing pages. Can also refer to the outer indentation that is created by the joining of the boards and spine.

HALF BINDING
Leather spine and corners. Leather extends about 1/3rd to 1/4th of the way to the edge.

HALF CLOTH
Cloth spine and paper covered sides.

HALF-TITLE (FLY TITLE)
The page, preceding the title page proper, listing only the title of the book and no other information. While always present in modern books, it is sometimes lacking in older publications because it was originally designed to be removed before custom binding.

HALF-TONE
A gradation of tone (between light and dark) of an image by minute, closely spaced dots. Used in photography and graphics.

HARDCOVER
A book whose case is made of stiff boards, as opposed to wrappers.

HEAD
Top edge of the text block.

HINGE (or GUTTER)
The inside of the front and back covers where the sides of the binding meet the spine. "Hinges tender" means that the end paper is starting to split at the junction.

HINGES STARTING
This term means the covers are starting to separate from the pages of the book. The pasted-down endpaper is a single sheet of paper, which also forms the front free endpaper. After years of supporting the weight of the binding or the gatherings, the paper might start splitting or give way all together. This condition is quite common on older books, especially those with cheap bindings and paper. It is easily remedied (on rare books, consult with a professional) by running a very small bead of "dries flexible" type glue along the split (use some common sense here) and carefully closing the book, to let the glue set up. The hinge will live longer than you will. End papers can be easily replaced by a reputable bookbinder.

INCUNABULA
The earliest printed books of a genre, often used exclusively to mean those printed before 1501. Coined from the Latin word cunae, meaning "cradle".

INSCRIPTION
Additional writing (besides signature) by the author or someone associated with the book. See presentation copy. If the book carries a gift inscription from one stranger to another, all things being equal, it detracts from the value of the item.

ISSUE POINT. See edition and points.

JOINT
Refers to outer hinge where spine joins the sides of the book. Sometimes referred to as the "gutter". The outer equivalent of the hinge. "Joint cracked" indicates binding is split where the top board meets the back strip. It can be repaired with some care.

LAID IN
Paper, photograph or print is laid in (not glued down), such as a printed publisher’s letter in review copies.

LAID ON
See tipped in.

LAMINATE
The thin plastic layer covering the dust jacket of some books.

LIMITED EDITION
Small number of copies of book published. Books are usually numbered such as "100/500" meaning number 100 of an edition of 500. Sometimes the number is handwritten in the printed limitation notice, as in “No. xx of 500.” Often precedes the mass market trade market.

LOOSE
When a book has been read carelessly or too often, and has become loose and sloppy in its binding. See hinges started and joint. Having books rebound can be an expensive proposition, since the book needs to be taken apart, trimmed and re-stitched. For most books, it isn’t worthwhile.

MANUSCRIPT
The original pages of an author's work, written in the author's hand or typed.

MARBLING
A process of decorating paper, in which the result resembles the veins of stone marble. Often found on endpapers or boards of older, custom bindings. Sometimes imitated in modern editions. Globs of different colored inks are floated on a gelatinous bath called sizing. The inks are then "combed" or blended together into an original, one of a kind pattern. A sheet of paper is then laid down on top of the pattern, absorbing the pattern. The paper is then dried and cut to size. The edges of fine older books may be marbled.

MARRIED
Two related items brought together, though not initially sold as a unit, for the purpose of making the set complete as published (i.e.: a book and dust jacket, or two volumes in a set).

MODERN FIRST EDITIONS
Generally books published post-World War II. Euphemistically means books by popular and collectible authors.

n.d. No date of publication is indicated.

n.p. No publisher or city of origin is indicated.

OBVERSE
The front or main surface of anything.

OPEN TEAR
A tear that may have some material missing.

OUT-OF-PRINT
(OP or OOP) A book no longer available from the publisher. It is no longer being printed and no copies remain available for sale.

OWNER'S INSCRIPTION
Words written by previous or original owner of book. Also known as previous owner's inscription. Usually devalues the book, unless the owner is famous.

PAGINATION
The numbering of the pages.

PANEL
Refers to borders in binding. Can also be used in connection with the main surfaces of a dust jacket.

PAPERBACK
A book bound with flexible paper covers; usually a term reserved for mass-market publications.

PAPER COVERS (also PAPER-COVERED BOARDS)
Describes a book not bound in stiff paper covers. Can refer to a temporary binding, a booklet or pamphlet, or a book in early (1800s) wrappers.

PARCHMENT
The skin of a sheep, goat, etc., prepared as a surface for writing or for use as a binding material.

PASTEDOWN
The part of the endpapers that is pasted to the inside of the front and rear covers.

PLATE
A special page containing an illustration or other extra information; often printed on glossy paper.

POINTS/POINTS OF ISSUE.
Peculiarities or errors in a published book whose presence or absence helps to determine edition, issue, or state.

PRESENTATION COPY
A book inscribed by the author and given to someone else of importance to the author, the book, or society in general. The author will present an association copy to someone of some importance.

PRICE CLIPPED
The price on the inner flap of a dust jacket has been cut off.

PROOF
See uncorrected proof.

PROVENANCE
Evidence of the history of the ownership of a particular book (e.g., auction records, booksellers' records, book plates, etc.) The book may be important because of who owned it - perhaps a president or important bookseller, collector, royalty, or someone who may be related to the book in some way. Important in establishing the ownership of especially rare items.

PSEUDONYM/PEN-NAME/NOM DE PLUME
An assumed name used to protect the anonymity of an author.

PUBLISHER'S BINDING
Binding provided by the publisher when supplying a book for a bookseller. This practice, while common today, dates from the 1800s.

QUARTER BINDING
A book with its spine bound in a different material than the boards, i.e., a leather spine and cloth- or paper-covered boards.

READING CREASE
A crease down the spine of a book (usually a paperback); considered a defect.

REBACKED
A repair, where the original spine or backstrip has been removed, the spine replaced, and the original reglued on top. Can be considered a defect, but more valuable than not having any of the original spine present.

REBOUND
A repair, where the entire binding has been replaced by a new one.

RECASED
A repair, where a book is taken apart and put back together using original pages, cloth, and endpapers. Usually done to tighten the sewing or to wash the pages, etc.

RECTO
A right-hand page, when a book is open and facing the reader.

REMAINDER
A new book returned to the publisher as unsold, then re-marketed at a much lower price. Until the 1970s, publishers could take tax deductions on their unsold inventory. When that deduction was abolished, carrying inventories became expensive, so the remaining copies are now sold.

REMAINDER MARK
A mark (rubber stamp, felt marker stroke, or spray, often on a book's bottom edge) signifying that the book was returned to publisher as unsold, and then sold at a much lower price. Considered to be a defect.

REVIEW COPY
A copy of new book sent free-of-charge for purposes of review. Often includes a laid-in review slip with publishing information. Not necessarily a first edition.

RUBBED
Where color has been worn from portions of the binding or dust jacket.

SHAKEN
The text block is loose in its binding; no longer tight, but not detached.

SHEETS
The pages that have been printed but not yet folded, sewn, or gathered together for binding.

SHELF-BACK
The spine of a book.

SIGNATURE
A printed sheet of paper, folded to size and ready for sewing (i.e.: large paper folded in half, fourths, eighths, sixteenths, or thirty-seconds).

SIGNED
As a rule if the book is signed by the author it is worth more. Inscribed refers to additional verbiage by the author. More valuable if the author is known to be have signed few books.

SIZE
The size of a book is determined by the size of the original sheet of printed paper and the number of times it is folded in the construction of the book. The larger the sheet of paper, the larger the book. Here is a short list of the abbreviations and their approximate sizes. There are many variations within these categories.

Fo. - Folio. A large sheet folded a single time (or not at all).

4to. - Quarto. The same sheet folded twice. Your typical "coffee table" book.

8vo. - Octavo. The average-sized book.

12mo. - Duodecimo. Getting smaller.

16mo. - Sextodecimo. Smaller yet.

Miniature. - Very small and very hard to read.

There are many variations within each size – you may see descriptions such as “small octavo”.

SLIPCASE
A box built to house and protect a book, leaving the spine exposed. Often used for deluxe or limited editions.

SPINE (BACK STRIP)
The back of the book. The top and bottom of the spine are called the tips.

SOPHISTICATED
Books that have had repairs that involve making additions to the original, e.g., chips filled in and tinted to match the missing portion, replaced page corners, etc.

SPINE
The backbone, or back, of the book where the title (if present) is displayed when it is standing upright on a shelf.

STARTING
Hinges or joints beginning to show signs of becoming loose, either through wear or defective binding. Considered a defect.

STATE
Variations within an edition, which are made prior to publication; can include:

• Alterations due to stop-press insertions, damaged type, etc.
• The addition of errata leaves or advertisements.
• Textual changes affecting page lay-out.
• Some special-paper copies.

This term applies only in connection with the printed pages, and not variations in bindings. For example, a small number of copies of Ernest Hemingway's “For Whom the Bell Tolls” were erroneously printed without the photographer's credit on the back of the dust jacket. The presses were stopped midway through the first run, the credit was added, and the second state of the first edition resulted.

STICKER DAMAGE
A price sticker has been roughly removed resulting in surface damage to the underlying material. A defect.

STICKER GHOST
Sticker has been left on book for some time, and the glue, reacting chemically, has discolored the surface. A defect.

STIPPLED EDGE
Color sprayed on a book's external edges.

SUNNED
Browning, yellowing, or fading of paper or binding as a result of sun exposure.

TAIL
Bottom edge of the text block.

TAPE RESIDUE
Complications of cellophane tape which remains on the paper or a book's cover, resulting in brown stains or bits of tape adhering to paper. A defect.

TENDER
When the binding is loosening.

TEXT BLOCK
Pages containing the content of a book (text, illustrations, etc.) bound together; does not include endpapers.

TIPS
The top and bottom edges of the spine.

TIPPED IN
Often on higher quality, illustrated books, the plates are printed separately on a better grade of paper and glued lightly along one edge to a blank page. In library book repair, ‘tipped in’ means gluing the edge of a loose page, using wax paper on either side and replacing the loose page, closing the book and rubber banding it to cure/dry overnight.

TITLE PAGE
The page that gives important information about the book, i.e., title, author, publisher, date, etc.

TOOLING
The decoration of leather bindings.

TOP STAIN
The publisher's decorative colored stain, applied to the top page edges.

TRADE PAPERBACK
When the cloth-bound trade edition is issued by the same publisher, sometimes simultaneously, but bound in wrappers. Because the same sheets are used, such issues are often quite larger than paperbacks published for mass-market distribution.

TRADE EDITION
An edition sold through bookstores, as opposed to those meant for private or specialized distribution.

UNCORRECTED PROOF
A pre-publication printing intended for editorial use, or occasionally to be sent out for review. Usually issued in plain colored wrappers.

UNCUT
After the gatherings are sewn or glued together, the publisher may or may not want to trim the fore edge of the pages. If they are left uncut, it leaves a rather ragged, romantic look. See deckled edge.

UNOPENED
When folded edges of the pages of the bound text block remain joined together and have not been sliced open. Unread. Older books were often sold unopened – one read them with the aid of a paper knife (cf. David’s portrait of Marat murdered in his bath – the paper knife is plainly seen). Collectors may pay a premium for unopened copies, as they have not been read.

VANITY PRESS/VANITY PUBLISHERS
Publishers and presses that publish books at the author's own expense.

VARIANT
A copy of a book that varies in some way from the ideal copy. Can refer to binding color, illustrations, or other variations in the description of a book that do not appear in a descriptive bibliography

VELLUM
A thin sheet of specially prepared leather used for writing, printing, or as a binding material; considered superior in quality to parchment.

VERSO
The left page of an open book, when it is open and facing the reader. The back of a leaf. Also called the reverse.

VERY GOOD
Very light wear to book, and/or jacket; no large tears, or major defects; one of the most often used terms. Also see our page of descriptive terms.

WATERMARK
A faint identifying design, usually in quality paper.

WHIPSTITCHING
To sew a book's leaves by passing the thread over and over the spine; often seen in early pamphlets.

WOODCUT
Illustrations produced when the original printing plate was engraved on a block of wood. One of the oldest methods of printing, dating back to 8th century China.

WRAPPERS or WRAPS
The printed or unprinted cover of a pamphlet or book bound in paper. Softbound or paperback. Stiff wrappers implies a better grade of stock, often found on University Press books or more scholarly titles.

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