HST/ENG 475: History of the Book Terms

This is the flash card set for the terms from the History of the Book class taught by Liam Brockey at Michigan State University in Spring 2026

Incubabular Period

Pre 1501

Board

The front of the book that is under the cover

Clasp

The mechanism that locks the book shut

Fore Edge

The sides of pages

Paste down

The Inside of the boards. It is the front “page” that is pasted down to the board of the book

Leaf/Folio

Both sides of a page

Recto

Front of a page, right hand page

Verso

Back of a page, left hand page

Page number each side

???

Leaf number one side

???

Colifon

End page with information about the book such as date finished, author, publisher, etc.

Corner pieces

The decorative corner pieces of cover of a book

Boss

Metal decorations on the outside of a book, typically used as a way to protect the book cover from damage

Furniture

The additional metal pieces on the outside of a book

Blind stamping

A stamp on the outside leather of a book

Gilt stamping

A stamp on the outside leather of a book with metal

End banding

Decorative edge of binding

Binding waste

Reused pages from other books and manuscripts

Turn in leather on the inside of the board

???

Gutter

The area of the book where pages come together, it is where pages are bound together

Rebacked

A name used for when there is a new spine given to a book

Manicure

Term for little hand

Opticule

Term for little eye

Sewing support

Repairs done to rips in a book or manuscript; looks like cut-out pages

Broadside

One side of single sheet printing

Registration

Lining up different color paintings

Colafont

The information of the book; typically in the back