M
Made-up Copy -A copy of a book whose parts have
been assembled from one or more defective copies.
Maquette - Model for a binding or book layout.
Marbled Edges - Cut edges of a book that
have been decorated with a marbled pattern in colors, often to match
boards and/or endpapers.
Marbled Paper - Decorative paper made by dipping
the paper into a bath of multi-colored paint, leaving swirled marble-like
designs on the paint, which are often then manipulated with a comb or
other instrument into a variety of patterns. Used today primarily as
covers or endpapers in luxurious books issued by fine presse
Mezzotint - A type of intaglio engraving in which
the plate is roughened with a tool called a cradle and those areas which
are not to take ink are smoothed. This method is capable of producing
prints of exceptionally rich tone.
Miniature -A book smaller than 16mo (32mo, 64mo,
etc.) Something between a toy and a showpiece. A phenomenon of the 19th
Century and before. A format at that time popular for religious and
reference works. Their recent resurgence is associated generally with art
and poetry.
Mint Copy - A absolutely perfect copy, as perfect
as the day it was issued. A condition describing a book that for all
intents and purposes can be considered 'new'. 'As new' is the preferred
term.
Misbound - Pages or signatures sewn together in
an improper order.
Mis-en-page - The arrangement and designof page
elements (type, illustrations and margins).
Modern Firsts - All books which were published in
this century.
Monograph - A work, generally short, dealing with
a single subject and usually issued in pamphlet form.
Morocco - A type of leather made from goatskins,
especially suitable for book bindings because of its durability and
beauty.
Mottled - Spotted or speckled because of
excessive dampness or mildew.
ms, mss - Manuscript.
N
Nature Printing - A method
for printing impressions of great accuracy from botanical specimens by
impressing them in a soft lead plate.
nd - See No Date.
nf - Near Fine condition. See condition - Fine.
No, Nos, # - See Number.
No Date - No date of publication mentioned within
the book.
No Place - No Place (of publication).
np -See No Place.
NS - Note Signed
Number - An issue of a periodical.
O
Obverse -The right-hand page of a book, more
commonly called the recto.
Octavo (8vo) - A book of about 5 inches wide and
8 inches tall to about 6 x 9 inches. Octavo is the most common size for
current hardcover books. To make octavo books, each sheet of paper is
folded to make eight leaves (sixteen pages).
Offprint - A separate printing of a section
of a larger publication; i.e., a periodical.
Offset - The transfer of ink from one page to
another, either as a printed page or an engraving.
Offsetting - When a page of a book bears the
print of the page opposite, common with illustrated books without tissue
guards.
On Approval - Reputable booksellers often sell
antiquarian books "on approval," allowing the purchaser to
return a book for a refund within a specified period if the purchaser
finds condition to be unacceptable. Thus, "on approval" is
simply another version of the familiar phrase "satisfaction
guaranteed" used by most mail order vendors. Blackstone & Coke
offers its books on approval.
Onlaid - Of a leather binding, a design built up
from cut scraps of leather in mosaic manner.
op - Out of Print.
orig -Original. As in original binding.
Out-of-Print - Books which are no longer printed
and which are no longer available from the publisher
Out of Series - Refers to overruns or extra
copies of limited editions.
P
Pamphlet - A small separate
work issued in paperwraps.
pb, ppr - See paperback.
Paperback - Books in paperwraps published since
the 1930's, although it can describe any book with a paper cover.
Paperback Grading- A letter grade system is
sometimes used for describing the condition of a paperback:
... "A" grade. Basically an unread book. No
book store stamps on the edges, inside the front cover, etc. The book is
as close to perfect as possible. These are typically very difficult to
find for older books written in the 1980s and near impossible for those in
the 1970s and earlier.
... "B" grade. Given to a book that is
slightly creased in the spine. Might have name, initials, light stamp in
the book.
... "C" grade. This means that there are
creases in the spine and maybe on the tips of the cover. Basically, it is
a reader's copy only.
Paper Boards - Stiff cardboard covered in paper.
Parchment - The split skin of a sheep or goat
specially treated and used like paper for calligraphy and printing.
Parts - The practice of publishing novels in
separate monthly installments in magazine format.
Pastedown - The outer endpaper at the front and
rear that is pasted to the interior of the cover.
Paste Paper - Paper decorated by manipulating a
combination of pigment and gum with combs, stamps, brushes etc.
pc - See price-clipped.
Perfect binding - Used in paperback books, trade
paperbacks and magazines that have too many pages to be stapled. The page
edges are glued together, then placed in the covers. This is a less
expensive process than traditional book binding and stapling.
Pictorial - Describes a book with a picture on
the cover.
Pictorial Boards - The outer cover of a
hard-bound book that depicts a decorative scene.
Pirated Edition - Any edition of a work issued
without permission of the author and without payment of royalties to the
author or copyright holder.
Plaquette Binding - An ornate binding (or portion
of a binding) decorated from a single plate rather than separate tools.
pl, pls - See Plates.
Plates - Whole-page illustrations printed
separately from the text. Illustrations printed in the text pages are
called cuts.
Pochoir - A method for coloring prints and
illustrations by hand through multiple stencils, capable of very rich and
elaborate effects.
Pointillé, Pointille - A type of binding
ornamentation using a field of tiny gilt dots.
Points - Distinguishing characteristics, usually
errors, that occur within a first edition and indicate the priority of
copies.
Poor - Poor describes a book that is sufficiently
worn that its only merit is as a Reading Copy because it does have the
complete text, which must be legible. Any missing maps or plates should
still be noted. This copy may be soiled, scuffed, stained or spotted and
may have loose joints, hinges, pages, etc. (AB Bookman).
Portfolio - Unsewn sheets in a simple folder.
Often. ornament books were issued in this fashion.
pp - pages
Prefs - See Preface.
Preface - Author's introductory statement.
Presentation Copy - A copy of a book actually
given by the author to someone of his acquaintance, usually with an
inscription of some sort testifying to this disposition.
Price clipped - The price has been clipped from
the corner of the dust jacket.
Printed Cover - Used to describe a dust wrapper
or paper cover that is only lettered.
Printing - Another word for impression.
Private Press - A small press, often operated by
one person, usually devoted to the production of small quantities of
finely printed books.
Privately Printed - This term refers to a book or
pamphlet whose printing was paid for by an individual or a group, and
which is meant for private circulation, not public sale.
Proofs - Precede the published book. The normal
course of events would be galley proof, uncorrected bound proof and
advance reading copy bound in paperwraps.
Prospectus - A publisher's announcement of a
forthcoming book, set, or periodical, with information about the price,
contributors or authors, date of publication, and binding.
Provenance - The history of ownership or
possession of a given book.
pub -Publisher or published.
Publication Date - The data a book is formally
placed on sale.
Publisher's Cloth - A cloth binding issued by the
publisher.
Q
- Quarter Binding -
Similar to half binding but only the spine is covered in the specified
material. The remaining board or cover is usually of a lesser material
such as cloth or paper.
Quarter Leather - A book with a leather spine. Also
see Half Leather.
Quarto or 4to - An oversized book, approximately
11 to 13 inches tall, beyond 8vo but nearing the size of a folio. Large
but still comfortable in the hands. Also refers to a book in which pages
are printed "four-up" and the sheet folded twice. |