Glossary of book collecting terms book collecting tips. First edition the first printing of a book, done from the original setting of type. Ever how to interpret the condition, edition, and other terms included in the description of a book for sale. The collectability of the first printing of the first edition. In antiquarian book collecting, bindings often have a wide range in margin sizes due to variant bindings, often copies with wider margins are deemed more desirable. Although these cutouts dont damage the cd or liner notes, they are visible. A glossary of book binding terms books tell you why, inc. A more comprehensive list and detailed discussion of terms can be found in john carters abc for book collectors. Boards the stiff material commonly referred to as the covers. Hopefully, our glossary will help you unravel some of the jargon used by book collectors and book sellers. The quire grew in time, and it came to be a collection of 24 sometimes 25 folded or unfolded sheets, which makes a ream of 480 sheets of paper 20 quires, and a quire one twentieth of a ream.
This glossary defines nearly 300 terms frequently encountered by stamp collectors and cover collectors. They are the most widely accepted trade definitions. It is not complete, but is a work in progress, and a labor of love for those who collect books, published here as a service to those whove requested it. Antiquarian and rare book glossary of terms you should know raptis rare books fine rare and antiquarian first edition books for sale.
A book collectors glossary by carl noe scot kamins, editor. What follows is a glossary of terms and abbreviations that are likely to be encountered in our catalogues, as well as in secondhand and rare book catalogues in general. Abaa antiquarian booksellers association of america. There may be exceptions to some of our definitions our main concern is to provide you with general concepts relative to commonly used book jargon. Some booksellers prefer the term mellowed, a term best perhaps reserved for. The following pages specifically give information on making a condition assessment of damaged books.
Finally, here is the definitive glossary of the book, offering readers all the terms they will need for thorough understanding of how books are made, the materials they are made of, and how they are described in the bookselling, book collecting, and library worlds. The most complete list is contained in john carters abc for book collectors. The books interior will only be printed in black ink, with one color black on both sides of the page. Home book collecting glossary of terms number line number line a series of numbers appearing on the page of a book, where the lowest number generally indicates the printing of that particular copy e. Definition for uncorrected proof in the glossary of book collecting terminology at. The international league of antiquarian booksellers resources including library of articles, glossary of terms in several languages. When it comes to book binding, there are many descriptors that are used. The following is a partial list of terms used in book collecting.
This abbreviated glossary covers only the most commonly encountered terms. Coin collecting terms and coin collecting definitions used by coin collectors. They are released prior to official publication, and. Good is most often abbreviated in listings as g or gd. Home book collecting glossary of terms gilt gilt the decorative application of gold or gold coloring to a portion of a book on the spine, edges of the text block. A publishers slip usually provides information such as the anticipated publication date, the number of pages, and possibly contains advance marketing information such as publicity tours, or books signings. Looking for help understanding commonly used book collecting terminology, or abbreviations and references. Ioba book terminology independent online booksellers.
Glossary of terms used in book descriptions booksellers and book collectors use various terms to describe books, their constituent parts and condition. The term comics in this context does not refer to comic strips such as peanuts or dilbert. A biographical sketch of an author, commonly found on the rear flap of a dustjacket. More familiar terms include folio or quarto, which at least. The mission of the abaa is to promote ethical standards and professionalism in the antiquarian book trade, to encourage the collecting and. Notes written in the margins of a page around the text. A common vocabulary with clear definitions promotes effective communication. Coin collecting terminology seems to be a language of its own. As collections management throughout the usgs expands, this list of terms will grow and definitions may change. In book collecting, the first edition is the earliest published form of a book. Infography about book collecting a book collectors choice of the best books, articles, and online resources. Describes the average used worn book that has all pages or leaves present.
Frequently used by students and others when studying a text. Other standard sizes include folio which is folded only once, quarto which is folded twice for four leaves, and duodecimo, folded in a specific pattern for twelve leaves or twenty four pages. Now with more and more hobby information for the coin collector. A book may have more than one first edition in cases where it has been published in multiple forms, including foreign releases or editions with substantially changed content such as an illustrated or a limited edition. A book remainder mark is usually made with a stamp or permanent marker on the bottom edge of the book, though it may be on the back cover or another edge. The following terms are defined and illustrated, sometimes as examples on pages of related terms. The most recent editions are book collecting 2000 and collected books. Glossary of technical terms antique book collecting. Some of the terminology used in book collecting can be arcane, indeed. Although a new book is typically free of any faults or defects, new is not actually a description of condition as a new book may possibly display shelf wear from the shop or distributor supplying it or printing. The coin collecting jargon guide presented on this page was developed to help you understand the terminology youll stumble upon frequently as you delve into coin collecting. The first half of the glossary contains terms az and is followed by two book anatomy illustrations, descriptions of the various book sizes, a guide to condition ratings, and the most common abbreviations used in the world of. Glossary of credit and collection terms abcamega inc.
One of two book collecting guides written by allen and patricia ahearn. Antiquarian and rare book glossary of terms you should. Home book collecting glossary of terms uncorrected proof. Looking for help understanding commonly used book collecting terminology, or abbreviations and references used in book sellers descriptions. Terms 2% 15 eom means that a 2% discount is earned if the invoice is paid in 15 days.
This list will be expanded and updated as the need arises, and will hopefully prove some. A short descriptive paragraph on a book, usually on the dustjackets flap. Please see the updates section for more information on any revisions. There may be exceptions to some of our definitions our main concern is. Autographed manuscript signed, all in the authors hand. The best, most succinct, singlesource glossary of bookrelated terms, especially useful for modern collectors, is found in patricia and allen ahearns book collecting. Terms describing condition are based on antiquarian book trade standards as set forth in the ab bookmans weekly.
May 21, 2015 this glossary defines nearly 300 terms frequently encountered by stamp collectors and cover collectors. Glossary of terms book collecting tips offers informational resources for all book collectors. The first is an excellent onevolume overview of book collecting, with price estimates for the first books by thousands of authors. The mission of the abaa is to promote ethical standards and professionalism in the antiquarian book trade, to encourage the collecting and preservation of rare and antiquarian books and related materials. Another of the terms referring to page or book size, octavo refers to a standard printers sheet folded four times, producing eight leaves, or sixteen pages. The collector should arm themselves with the relevant bibliographies to know when a bce might be desirable. When considering the purchase of a book for your collection, the condition and, if applicable, the dust jacket are the most important factors affecting the value. The antiquarian booksellers association of america was founded in 1949 to promote interest in rare books and foster collegial relations. Coin collecting terms and coin collecting definitions used by. The study and collecting of things that are used as money, including coins, tokens, paper bills.
A comic book is a magazine or book containing sequential art in the form of a narrative. Glossary of terms for book collectors tony power bookseller. Book terminology or book terms are the vocabulary used in book collecting to describe the many different parts of the book. Search the glossary of book terms to unravel the puzzling language you may have found in the description of your book. Book terms and book conditions used by book collectors. Book printing glossary below youll find a list of terms and their definitions to common book printing terms. A more complete guide to book sizes, book conditions and binding terms can be found through the aforementioned links.
The top, foreedge and foot of the book are colored with a decorative stain. Find some of the common jargon booksellers and book collectors often use. Abaa glossary of book terms antiquarian booksellers. Familiarizing the terms used in comics is essential.
The book collectors magazine resource for book collecting, first editions, rare, antiquarian books. The front of a leaf, the righthand page of an open book. As a result of this purpose, the paper quality of the ffep is generally of a heavier weight than. The oftrepeated aphorism in the book collecting world is good isnt good. Abaa about rare books book glossary book collecting. When it comes to a books binding, there are many descriptors that are used. Many terms refer to the study of illuminated manuscripts, but printed books and other subjects are included as well. About antiquarian books bookcollecting is at once the most various, the most sophisticated, and the least incometaxing of the major forms of connoisseurship. Not only will this allow the novice to correctly describe a book, this page will provide an easy reference to unknown book words allowing an intelligent decision before purchasing or describing a book to sell. First trade edition the first published edition for release to the trade and to the public. It is the key to understanding the hobby of comic book collecting, or any hobby that involves collecting valuables and antiquity, and dealing with people in the comics industry with success. With this method, assets are measured at their gross book value rather than at net book value in order to produce a higher return on equity roe. Describes a book that shows some small signs of wear but no tears on either binding or paper.
The glossary below is the most recent version as of september 10, 2019. This article is a collection of numismatic and coin collecting terms with concise explanation for the beginner or professional numismatics ancient greek. Get the definition of common coin terms from coin anatomy to collecting. Antiquarian and rare book glossary of terms you should know. Please email us if you have any questions about book collecting. Abebooks glossary of book terms our glossary was designed to help visitors to our website understand unfamiliar book related terms. Precise definitions for many philatelic terms do not exist. The best, most succinct, singlesource glossary of bookrelated terms, especially useful for modern collectors, is found in patricia and allen ahearns. Abaa about rare books book glossary book collecting advice. Home book collecting glossary of terms gilt gilt the decorative application of gold or gold coloring to a portion of a book on the spine, edges of the text block, or an inlay in the front cover of the boards, for example.
Index of illustrated book collecting terms on mywingsbooks. Welcome to coin terms a dictionary of coin collecting words where you can find the meaning of that coin collecting word or phrase. Coin collecting terms and coin collecting definitions used. Let us help with this glossary of book binding terms. The second is a straightforward price guide, with the added bonus older price data. Although the term implies otherwise, the subject matter in comic books is not necessarily humorous, and in fact its dramatic seriousness varies widely. It pays to become familiar with the basic descriptive terms used by used and rare booksellers to communicate a particular books condition. The mission of the abaa is to promote ethical standards and professionalism in the antiquarian book trade, to encourage the collecting and preservation of rare and antiquarian books and related materials, to support educational programs and research into the study of rare books, and to facilitate collegial relations between. This coin collecting glossary of terms and their definitions will speed you on your way to becoming a professional numismatist in no time when you are new to coin collecting, and you begin to visit coin shows or join a coin club, you will start to. This coin collecting glossary of terms and their definitions will speed you on your way to becoming a professional numismatist in no time. Abebooks glossary of book terms our glossary was designed to help visitors to our website understand unfamiliar bookrelated terms. Cd remainders are usually marked by cutting the spine of the case or punching a hole through the upc barcode. Means the book was loose or out of its covers and it has been resewn or glued back in, usually with new endpapers.
Terminology and glossary of coin collector words, dictionary of definitions and abbreviations. Book terms glossary advanced reading copy arc or uncorrected proof. A quire was originally a small medieval book or pamphlet, especially one constructed of a set of four sheets of paper folded in two, forming eight leaves. This is a list of common terms encountered in book collecting which i have consolidated from a number of sources.
Abbreviations appear alphabetized at the beginning of each respective letter. Means the book has been repaired preserving the original covers, including the spine. For anyone interested in book collecting, understanding the terminology used in the book buying and selling industry is essential. Although a new book is typically free of any faults or defects, new is not actually a description of condition as a new book may possibly display shelf wear from the shop or distributor supplying it or printing errors or defects from publishing that were not detected. One collector, dealer or society may define a term in one way, while others will use the term in a slightly different way. Coin acronyms and abbreviations explained glossary of terms. First edition a real first edition should be designated first edition, first printing, that describes a copy from the first print run of a books first edition. A new book is a book previously not circulated to a buyer. While numismatists are often characterized as studying coins, the discipline also includes the study of banknotes, stock. It is a fairly long, comprehensive numismatic glossary, built over a period of many years. A loose term implying collectible books rather than used books.
Below youll find a list of terms and their definitions to common book printing terms. Welcome to coin terms a dictionary of coin collecting words. This is the first full edition of a book collectors glossary. Very fine is a flawless copy, perfect in every way and probably never read.