BOOK TERMINOLOGY
An illustrated dictionary of terms for describing books and ephemera, their condition and the bookselling trade.
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GLASSINE
Feature
Glassine is a thin, semi-translucent material used by some publishers to cover and protect a book. The material is delicate and easily damaged. These are usually, though not always, unprinted. Some are embossed with a spider web pattern and called Webbed Glassine.
The example shown is on a book dating from 1937. As the image shows, this wrapper is chipped and wrinkled with losses along the edges. It is also somewhat toned and brittle.


GRADING
General
Guidelines and terms used to properly describe the condition of books. See our page of Condition Definitions.
HALF-TITLE
Feature
Also Fly Title. The page preceding the title page proper, normally listing only the title of the book and no other information. While usually present in modern books, it is sometimes lacking in older publications because it was originally designed to be removed before custom binding.
HAZARDOUS BINDINGS - CELLULOID / IVORINE BINDINGS
Defect
Cellulose-nitrate was used to form hard 'artificial ivory' material used for the covers of some late nineteenth-century US and European decorative, gift books, albums, and religious books. Often used under its trade names of Celluloid, Ivorine, or French Ivory, as it degrades the material is sometimes unstable, can off-gas acidic compounds that affect adjacent materials, and is highly flammable, also releasing toxic gases as it burns. Considered hazardous by some common carriers, there may be restrictions on shipping the material.
Celluloid / Ivorine handling and safety
The example images show the decorated recto, smooth verso, and coggled edges of a celluloid or ivorine binding.

https://www.papereal.com

https://www.papereal.com

https://www.papereal.com
HAZARDOUS BINDINGS - TOXIC BINDINGS
Defect
Research has identified potentially toxic pigments used in some book cloth, marbled papers, book labels, binders' tickets, and other materials. As these materials degrade, they can release poisonous or carcinogenic elements such as arsenic, mercury, lead, chromium, etc. They are most prevalent in some, but not all, Victorian-era materials using green, red, orange, and yellow pigments.
The Poison Book Project at Winterthur Museum and the University of Delaware is a resource for identification of such toxic materials, handling protocols, and recommendations for storage.
https://sites.udel.edu/poisonbookproject/
The image shows a period cloth binding dyed with a compound potentially containing toxic elements.

Image courtesy of Vic Zoschak, of Tavistock Books https://www.tavbooks.com

Image courtesy of Vic Zoschak, of Tavistock Books https://www.tavbooks.com
INDEPENDENT ONLINE BOOKSELLERS ASSOCIATION (IOBA)
Trade Organization
Independent Online Booksellers Association is an international trade association founded in 1999 and committed to high ethical standards for online booksellers. IOBA members adhere to a code of ethics and meet standards for book descriptions and customer interactions.


INSCRIBED
Feature
When an author or someone associated with the book signs and handwrites a dedication, etc. Example: “To my beloved Elizabeth, John Steinbeck.” See also Signed.
Inscriptions may be just a few words, but might be lengthy and complex. The first example image shows a poem handwritten by the author as a part of the inscription; the second example image shows an original illustration created as a part of the inscription.





