A

• Colophon: A statement, usually at the end of a book, giving details of its printing or publication.

• Address (Imprint): Information on the title page regarding place, printer/publisher, and date.

• Album amicorum: A "friendship album" or autograph book, popular in the 16th–17th centuries.

• Paragraph indent: The typographic indentation marking the start of a new paragraph.

• Printer’s device: A printer’s emblem or typographical mark.

• Approbation: Official ecclesiastical approval to print a work, especially before the 18th century.

• Armorial binding: A binding decorated with a coat of arms, often indicating provenance.

• Autograph: A manuscript or signature written in the hand of the author.

B

• Sheepskin (Basane): A low-cost tanned sheepskin used in binding.

• Fine binding: A carefully crafted binding, usually in leather with gilt decoration.

• Bibliography: A systematic list of books related to a particular subject or author.

• Bifolium: A single sheet of paper or parchment folded to make two leaves or four pages.

• Autograph note: A short signed message by a notable figure.

• Clamshell box: A protective box for rare or valuable books.

• Wrapper: A soft cover, often temporary or publisher-issued.

• Burin engraving: Copperplate engraving made using a burin (graver).

C

• Gathering (Quire): A group of folded sheets bound together within a book.

• Publisher’s cloth: Original cloth binding, often decorative, especially 19th century.

• Gilt monogram: Gilded initials on a binding, typically indicating a previous owner.

• Presentation case: A deluxe box or slipcase housing a book or book set.

• Colophon: See above.

• Pirated edition: An unauthorized reprint, usually made without consent.

• Tailpiece: A small typographic ornament at the end of a chapter or text.

D

• Inscription: A handwritten dedication, usually by the author.

• Legal deposit: The obligation to deposit a copy of any published book with a national library.

• Dentelle: Ornamental gilt tooling on the edges of a binding, resembling lace.

• Spine: The edge of the binding visible when a book is shelved; may show title, author, etc.

• Double-page spread: Two facing pages forming a unified visual or textual design.

E

• First edition: The first published edition of a text, often collectible.

• Editio princeps: The first printed edition of a classical or medieval work.

• Posthumous edition: A work published after the author’s death.

• Epistle (Prefatory letter): A preliminary text, often dedicatory, addressed to the reader or patron.

• Illumination: Painted or gold decoration in a manuscript.

• Author’s inscription: See inscription.

• Ex dono: A gift inscription indicating the book was given by someone.

• Ex-libris: A bookplate or other mark of ownership.

• Presentation copy: A finely bound or dedicated copy, often intended for a patron or notable recipient.

F

• Fascicle: A single part of a book issued in separate installments.

• Half-title: A page bearing an abbreviated title, preceding the main title page.

• Leaf: A single sheet in a book, printed on both sides (recto and verso).

• Watermark: A design embedded in the paper visible when held to light, often indicating authenticity.

• Folio: A book format resulting from folding a sheet once; also used to refer to large-format books.

• Frontispiece: An illustration facing the title page.

G

• Endpapers: The sheets at the front and back of a book connecting the text block to the cover.

• Deluxe paper copies: Copies printed on high-quality papers such as Japan, vellum, or chine.

• Engraving: A printed image made from an incised plate (copper, wood, or steel).

• Gloss: A marginal or footnote explanation or commentary.

H

• Not-for-sale copy: A copy marked as not intended for commercial sale.

• Inserted plate: An illustration printed separately from the text block.

• Photogravure: A photographic image printed from a copper plate.

I

• Illustrated: A book containing images—engravings, woodcuts, photographs, etc.

• Imprimatur: Ecclesiastical license to print, usually found in early religious works.

• Incunable (plural: incunabula): Books printed before 1501.

J

• Limitation statement: A note indicating how many copies were printed, often with individual numbering.

L

• Drop cap: A large, often decorative initial at the beginning of a section.

• Artist’s book: A work conceived as an art object by collaboration between author and artist.

• Family register (Livre de raison): A handwritten family or professional record book.

M

• Manuscript: A handwritten text, either by the author or a copyist.

• Printer’s mark: A symbol identifying the printer or publishing house.

• False imprint: A fictitious place or date of publication, often to evade censorship.

• Joint (Hinge): The part of a binding where the cover meets the spine.

N

• Raised bands: Ridges on a book’s spine created by sewing supports.

• Pseudonym: A name used by an author in place of their real name.

P

• China / Japan / Vellum / Dutch paper: Types of fine papers used for luxury printings.

• Title page: The page displaying full bibliographic details.

• Full binding: A binding fully covered in the same material (e.g., full leather).

• Covers (Boards): The front and back boards of a book.

• Provenance: The history of ownership of a book, traceable through inscriptions, bookplates, or bindings.

Q

• Four-color printing: A process using cyan, magenta, yellow, and black, common in illustrated books.

R

• Reprint: An identical reproduction of a previously printed edition.

• Bradel binding: A tight-back binding with a flat spine, often covered in cloth or paper.

• Mosaic binding: A decorative leather binding with inlays of variously colored leather.

• Romantic binding: A richly gilt 19th-century style of decorative binding.

S

• Signature (printer's guide): A letter or number at the foot of a leaf guiding the binder.

• Slipcase: A protective sleeve for a book.

• Edition statement: A note detailing the printing state, issue, or variant of an edition.

T

• Limited edition: A printing run restricted to a fixed number of copies, often signed or numbered.

• Running title: A short title at the top of pages throughout the book.

• Headband and tailband: Decorative and structural elements at the head and foot of the spine.

• Gilt edges / Mottled / Marbled edges: Decorative finishes to the page edges.

U

• Unicat: A book of which only one known copy exists.

• Unicum: Latin singular form of unicat.

• Unica: Latin plural form of unicum, used to describe multiple unique copies.

V

• Vellum: Fine parchment, or fine paper imitating parchment.

• Laid lines: Parallel lines visible in early handmade paper, seen by holding the leaf to light.