Illustrations produced when the original printing plate was engraved on copper; this method was introduced before the end of the 15th century. To some extent, they replaced the woodcut, which regained considerable popularity later on.

Abbreviated c or cp. The page that usually, normally, appears on verso of the title page, containing the artistic property protection.

A trade term. Check or cash with order.

A stain left on a cover or pages after having been exposed to water or other liquids.

The pictured page shows a rather pronounced dampstain along the right edge.

An abbreviation for Decorated.

A “deckle edge” is left on hand-made paper when the pulp settles at the edge of the frame. When the pages of a book are printed on such hand-made paper, gathered and bound, but left untrimmed, the book is said to have “deckled edges.” Sometimes it is simulated by binders on regular paper.

A border with a lacy pattern stamped by the binder, usually gilt. In modern fine bindings, dentelles are most often seen on the leather turn-ins on the inside of a book’s cover.

A listing of books desired.

The printer’s device is a design used as a printer’s logo. Classic examples include the “Aldine’s Anchor and Dolphin,” the “Estiennes’ Tree of Knowledge,” or the “Elzeviers’ Globe.”

The term refers to a paper item mechanically cut in an irregular shape. A die is created in the desired shape and used to stamp the items.

Pictured are three die cut advertising cards and a book cut into the shape of an anteater.

A small indentation on covers or pages which is usually deliberately created by publishers.

A small bump or dent leaving an impression, sometimes caused by careless handling or storage.

A book which has been removed from its binding (the binding is typically no longer present).

The first example image shows an item that was likely once a part of a larger book. Examining the left side you can see traces of the cords and other parts of the original binding. The second example image shows a book issued in wraps, but is disbound with the wraps nearly gone.

Corners of pages are turned down like a dog’s ear, often to mark one’s place while reading.

A dos-à-dos binding has two separate books bound together so the fore edge of the first book is adjacent to the spine edge of the second book. There may also be a center board shared by both books as their back cover.

The images show a Czech language reprint of two collections of short stories first published together in 1929.

Also DUSTWRAPPER (Abbreviated DJ or DW). The separate paper covering for a book. While originally intended for protection (and sometimes originally made from cloth), these have become an important part of modern books, often including information about a book not found elsewhere and original art work designed specifically for the particular book. Jackets are often collectible and highly-desired in their own right and a book published with a jacket that no longer has one can, from a collector’s viewpoint especially, be considered “incomplete.”

An abbreviation for Edition or Editor.

The three outer sides of the text block when a book is closed: fore-edge, top edge or head, and bottom edge or foot.

All copies of a book printed from the same setting of type, either at one time or over a period of time, with no major changes, additions or revisions. Minor changes, such as the correction of some misspelled words, or the addition of a dedication, or similar very minor alterations, may be made and the revised copies are still considered as part of the same edition, simply being described as different states or issues. Second or subsequent editions usually involve the entire resetting of type.

A collection or group of items offered together, rather than individually, is said to be offered or sold en bloc.