The Anatomy of a Book
Know your Prey
During your search you may come across a wide variety of terms describing either the inner or outer parts of a book. These are common terms used;
Acknowledgements
A section in a book where an author thanks everyone who helped them produce the book. May include family members, editors, Alpha , Beta, Gamma readers, publishers, assistants, agents or even inspirations.
Author Bio
Provides an overview of an author, their writing and any awards they have won.
Backstrip
The covering on the book's spine.
Binding
The cover of the book surrounding the book block.
Blurb
A comment from a reviewer (often by another author praising the particular book) printed on the dust jacket. Some collectors will even collect Brandon's Blurbs for other authors.
Boards
The stiff binding material used for most modern books.
Cloth
A cloth-bound covering of a book.
Colophon
An identifying inscription or emblem from the printer or publisher. Also refers to the emblem at the bottom of the spine on both the book and dust wrapper as well as a logo on the title or copyright page. Can also be called a Device.
Usually found on the back of the title page. Will contain information about the current edition and printing, publication information, printing history, ISBN that uniquely identifies the work and a copyright notice. Sometimes, there may be a warning indicating that the book sold without a cover is a stripped book.
Covers
The binding of the book, particularly the front and back panels. Can be plain or designed with art, glit or embossing.
Used to protect and bind together the pages of a book. Used as a distinction between hardcovers (HC) and paperbacks (PB), May have dust jackets or be case wrapped.
Crown
Very top edge of the spine.
Cuts
Illustrations printed in the pages of text are called cuts, whole page illustrations that have been printed separately are called Plates.
Decorative Stamped Binding
A highly detailed impression stamped onto the cover and/or spine of a book. Found on more higher end produced books such as the leather bound editions.
Dedication
The inscription found printed in a book addressing a particular person. This was once used as a way to gain the patronage and support of the person so addressed, but is now a mark of affection or regard for the person the book is dedicated too.
Device
A printer's or publisher's ornament or insignia that is the identifying mark for that entity. Interchangeable with the term colophon.
Dust Jacket/Dust Wrapper
A decorative wrapper placed around a book to protect the boards and binding from damage. Usually made of paper but other materials may be used. Can be easily damaged and if you are looking for a replacement (a married DJ) and you are collecting first edition, first printings it will be important to check the price printed on the dust jacket itself. Publishers will often keep the same dust jacket on subsequent printings or editions but change the cover price printed on the jacket. Therefore not all dust jackets can be directly swapped out depending on how you have chosen to collect.
Cover art can be one of the major draws for a collector, they are often very beautiful and designed to introduce you to the story you are about to read.
Publishers change cover art for many reasons including; country, gender or age of the consumer they are marketing the book towards. Even if a collector can not read the language, many foreign editions have unbelievable beautiful art only available in that language so many collectors will still wish to acquire these books.
Edges
The outer surfaces of a book's leaves.
End Papers
Sheets of paper pasted onto the inner covers of the book, joining the book block to the covers. One side of the sheet is pasted to the inside cover, the other is left free. Can be decorative or colored, found in more higher end produced editions.
Epilogue
A supplemental, but separate, part of the main story line. It is often used to reveal the fates of the characters and wrap up loose ends or questions the reader may still have.
Epigraph
A quote, paragraph, or short excerpt usually found at the beginning of a book an author uses to set up themes or place the events of their story. It does not need to connect directly to the story. They usually appear offset by quotation marks at the beginning of a text.
Facing Page
The page opposite the page being referred to.
Flyleaf
A blank leaf of paper can be more than one, following the front free end-paper or at the end of a book where there is not sufficient text to fill out the last few pages.
Fly Title
The page carrying nothing but the title of the book, usually preceding the title page can also be referred to as a Bastard title.
Folding Plates
A plate or illustration that is too big to fit into the book and therefore has been folded neatly into the book.
Footband
A special band at the bottom of the spine that hides the glue and helps keep the spine together.
Foreword
In an introductory section of a book written by someone other than the author. The writer of the foreword is usually a bestselling author or prominent figure like an expert on the subject matter. It is like a letter of recommendation that someone with credibility writes for a book, someone the readers will respect. Tends to be short. Can be very helpful for new authors to get published.
Free End-paper
The first or last movable leaf of paper in a book aka Front or Rear Fly; often blank.
Gilt
A thin application of gold decoration or lettering has been applied directly to the book. It can be applied to the boards, spine, and even edges. Found on higher end produced books like the leather bound editions. If flaking happens when handled lightly, wipe with soft dry cloth or use white gloves if you're very concerned but they are not needed.
Glassine
A transparent paper dust wrapper.
Half Binding
The spine and corners of a book are bound in a different material (frequently leather and cloth) than the rest of the covers.
Headband
A special band at the top of the spine that hides the glue and helps keep the spine together.
Hinge
The inside portion of the flexible joint where the cover meets the book spine. Joint describes the exterior portion.
Introduction
Written by the author and supplements the subject matter of the book. May present a point of view the reader should take, outline what is to come, teasing the writer's conclusions or why the book was written.
International Standard Book Number/ISBN
A book identifying 10 or 13 digit numbers depending on year of publication, that is unique to each separate edition and variation of a publication. A hardcover, paperback and e-book of the same story will all have their own ISBN.
Leaf
A single sheet of paper in a book; each leaf contains two printed pages, one on each side.
Paper
There are many different kinds of paper of various qualities. Higher quality books are commonly printed on higher quality thicker, acid free archival paper which will last longer and feel nicer on the hands.
Preface
Often confused with forwards and introductions the preface gives an explanation of the context of the book while introductions are used to dive directly into a story segueing smoothly into the body of text. And a Forward is written by another author. May be used to explain why the author is qualified to write about the subject matter or how or why they chose to write the book. More commonly found in nonfiction books, but they can also be used in fiction.
Prologue
Found at the beginning of a book before the first chapter, is part of the story but separate from the main story line. This can give the reader additional information that will help them understand the rest of the book. This can include background information on characters, events that took place before the story begins, or information about the setting of the story.
Recto
In an open book, recto is the page on the right side. Opposite to Verso.
Sheet
The piece of paper on which the printer prints the book. The sheet is folded one or more times to form the leaves of the book.
Signature Block
A bundle of pages, usually in groups of eight, 16, or 32, that begin as one large sheet of paper and are then folded and trimmed to create individual pages. These are what you are usually seeing being signed when Brandon is doing signings on YouTube and then these signature blocks are sent to the printers to be bound in the books. They use to have the books bound and shipped to Brandon and then unwrapped, signed then reshipped to customers which gave a lot of opportunity for the books to be damaged/lost in transit.
Slipcase
A cardboard case covered in paper, cloth or leather that holds a book(s) with only the spine(s) exposed.
Sometimes comes with the book or can be purchased separately or even can be made yourself. They help protect the book(s) from damage and dust. Can be designed plain or ornate. The 10 year anniversary leather bound The Way of Kings Kick starter edition and the Subterranean Press Perfect State/ Shadow for Silence in the forest of Hell both came in leather bound slipcases.
Spine
The book's backbone is covered with the backstrip. Has title, authors name, publisher and printers marks.
Stained or Sprayed Edges
The top, fore-edge and foot of the book will be colored with a decorative stain or spray.
Stenciled Edges
Parts of or all the edges of the book will have a decorative stencil. Can also be referred to as Sprayed edges.
Table of Contents
A list of a work's chapters or section titles or brief descriptions with their starting page numbers, usually found on a page before the start of the work.
Title Page
Near the beginning of the book, will contain the title and subtitle of the book, authors, editors, and/or contributors, the publisher or printer, and sometimes the place and date of publication. Oftentimes signatures are found on the title page. A half title will only display the title of a work.
Further information about the publication of the book, including its copyright information, is frequently printed on the back of (verso) of the title page. Also often included are the ISBN and the number line which will indicate the print run or printing.
Verso
In an open book, verso is the page on the left side. Opposite to Recto.