- About Bookbinding -
Book Anatomy
Types of Books
Books are published in a variety of familiar formats. The most popular formats are the hard covers, mass market paperbacks, and trade paperbacks. A hard cover book has outer covers made from a cardboard material that is covered with cloth, leather, or paper. A hardcover book may also be referred to as trade cloth or trade leather.
Paperback books were introduced to the American market in the 1930’s as a cheaper alternative to hardbound books. The paperback novel, also known as a mass market paperback, is traditionally four inches wide and seven inches high. Paperback novels today are used most exclusively for fictional works. The cover surrounding a paperback book is called the wrapper. The wrapper is glued to the paper backs spine.
Trade paperbacks come in many sizes including 5”x 8”, 6” x9”, and 8.25” x 11”. The covers on a Trade Paperback are also referred to as wraps or the wrapper.
Book Sizes
The following are standard book size terms and their abbreviations that are still in active use today:
Double Elephant Folio (Fo) – a book that is approximately 50” tall or more. |
Atlas Folio (Fo) – a book that is approximately 25” to 50” tall. |
Elephant Folio (Fo) – a book that is approximately 23” to 25” tall. |
Folio (Fo) – a book that is approximately 12” x 19” |
Quarto (4to) – a book that is approximately 9 ½” x 12” |
Imperial Octavo (8vo) – a book that is approximately 8 ¼” x 11 ½” |
Super Octavo (8vo) – a book that is approximately 7” x 11” |
Royal Octavo (8vo) – a book that is approximately 6 1/2” x 10” |
Medium Octavo (8vo) – a book that is approximately 6” x 9 ¼” |
Octavo (8vo) – a book that is approximately 6” x 9” |
Crown Octavo (8vo) – a book that is approximately 6” x 9” |
DuoDecimo (12mo) – a book size approximately 5“ x 7 ¼” |
Sexodecimo (16mo) – describes a book approximately 4” x 7 ½” |
Octodecimo (18mo) – a book size approximately 4” x 6 ½” |
Tricesimo-secondo (32mo) – a book size approximately 3 ½” x 5 ½” |
Quadragesimo-octavo (48mo) – a book size approximately 2 ½” x 4” |
Sexagesimo-quarto (64mo) – a book size approximately 2” x 3” |