Glossary of TermsBook ConditionWe strive to describe our books conservatively, accurately and
thoroughly. Book imperfections and defects are carefully noted in our book description.
New: Book is brand new and unread.
Like New: Book is similar to a New book, but shows slight wear.
Very Good: Book has been read but shows limited wear. Its physical condition is above that of the average used book.
Good: An average used book. Flaws may include missing endpapers, soiling, markings, limited notes and highlighting.
Acceptable: The book's condition is below the average used book but remains a readable copy.
Binding Styles
Quarter bound Refers to a book which has a binding of one type along the spine and extending fractionally onto the front and rear boards over a binding of a separate type covering most of the front and rear covers. “Quarter bound calf over marbled boards” means the spine and small part of the boards have a calf skin covering and the rest of the book panels are covered with marbled paper.
Half bound Similar to quarter bound but also includes a separate binding material (usually identical to that material which covers the spine) covering the outer corners of each board. (triangular in shape).
Full bound A book which has the entire spine and both boards covered with the same material.
Book Description
Blindstamp This is the embossed design or text on binding or pages; an impressed mark, decoration, or lettering, not coloured or gilded, usually appearing on the binding: "blind", because uncoloured.
Boards The outer covering of a book to which the pastedowns are attached. Boards are covered with a variety of materials such as cloth, buckram, or leather.
Bookplate A label pasted by a previous owner indicating ownership.
Contents The internals of any book, the printed pages themselves.
Dust Jacket Sometimes referred to as dustwrapper. The usually decorative paper wrapper placed around a book to protect the binding.
Endpaper Or endsheet. Paper that lines a book’s inner covers, front and rear; sometimes plain white, printed or "decorated."
Ex-library Legitimately removed from an institutional library.
Ex-libris A Latin phrase meaning “from the collection of.”
Flyleaf The blank page, or blank pages, following the front endpaper. Similarly, flyleafs also can be blank pages at the end of the book before the rear endpaper.
Foxing Brownish spotting of paper, usually caused by the effect of age - certain types of bleach used in the manufactering of paper react with moisture in the air to produce brown spots or marks.
Free Endpaper Blank page (or pages) that often precedes a book’s “Title Page.”
Frontispiece The illustration facing the title page.
Half-title Page or pages that contain only the book's title. It appears before the title page.
Hinge The part of the cover that bends when opened. Hinge can refer both to interior or exterior parts of the cover.
Marginalia Notes written in the margins of a page around the text. Frequently used by students and others when studying a text.
Unpaginated The pages are not numbered.
Wrapper A paperback’s soft covers.
|
