Preferred Binding Descriptions

Owned by Linda Isaac
Last updated: Oct 21, 2021

Hardbound

Bound in half blue calf and marbled paper over boards.

  • calf
    • mottled
    • decorated
    • reversed [instead of suede]
    • speckled
    • tree
    • Russia [a diced, hatch pattern; red or reddish-brown calf originally produced in Russia]
  • sheep
  • morocco (we don't use goatskin here)
    • crushed morocco
    • straight-grain morocco
  • pigskin
  • vellum
    • Japanese [a thick paper, historically hand-made in Japan, with a smooth finish produced as an imitation of vellum parchment]
  • snakeskin
  • cloth
  • leather [use when specific type is uncertain]

Bound in quarter tan Japanese vellum over boards, spine stamped in gilt.

Bound in original blue cloth over boards, spine stamped in gilt (edges severely frayed, with some loss of text).

Bound in contemporary red morocco over boards; red and blue marbled endpapers; edges sprinkled red and blue.

  • edges
    • gauffered
    • gilt [all edges gilt, or top edge gilt]
    • marbled
    • stained
    • sprinkled

Bound in half pebbled and half smooth-grain black cloth over boards.

Bound in original blue cloth over boards; in publisher's slipcase; in protective case, 27 cm.

  • original: publisher's binding [use only when certain it is original publisher's binding]
  • contemporary: binding dates to near the time of publication
  • later: binding is not contemporary, but actual date is unclear
  • modern [do not use]: specify the century or period but only when certain (e.g., early 20th century calf)

Bound in original quarter red cloth and blue paper over boards with full title printed on front cover.

Bound in contemporary vellum, with paper label on front cover.

Rebound in brown speckled calf over boards; original printed orange paper front cover preserved.

  • [use "rebound" when a binding has been created for a specific reason or occasion]
    • presentation copy
    • conservation binding
    • buckram binding [use for library binding]

Bound in red cloth over boards; pages mounted on stubs.

Bound in publisher's green leather over boards (spine faded to brown).

  • publisher's red cloth binding [use this format to specify when publisher has issued several known bindings]

Bound in contemporary quarter calf and brown marbled paper over boards, corners in brown cloth with snakeskin pattern (closely cropped, some marginalia lost).

Bound in original printed flexible tan boards (rebacked); beige silk ribbon marker intact; some worm holes on covers; shelf mark on free front endpaper; in case, 31 cm.

  • endpapers [or free endpaper; use unless flyleaf needs to be specified, see below]
  • flyleaf [use when specifying or contrasting blank leaves beyond initial (or before penultimate) endpapers]

Bound in quarter black buckram over boards, with original printed blue paper front cover mounted on front cover (worn).

Front pastedown with Dutch gilt endpapers.

Spiral-bound in printed red flexible plastic covers.

  • stapled
  • stabbed
  • post-bound
  • spiral-bound
  • sewn or stitched can be used at cataloger's discretion
  • hand-sewn
  • machine-stitched

Bound in contemporary purple morocco, spine panel stamped in gilt, with yellow morocco doublures, gilt turn-ins; with binder's stamp "Mathieu" on front turn-in.

Bound in modern red morocco over board, matching red satin linings, gilt turn-ins.

  • linings [used with fabric]
  • doublures

Staple-bound in blue flexible boards.

  • flexible: referring to board or plastic
  • limp: referring to fabric or skin

Softbound

Bound in original color illustrated wrappers.

Bound in original printed wrappers; printed beige dust jacket retained.

  • paper covers: refers to unbound, temporary paper protective cover [different from paperbacks]
  • wrappers: physically attached flexible cover (i.e., paperbacks) [may use specific terms; e.g., printed wrappers, illustrated wrappers]

Armorial bookplate on inside front cover.

  • pastedown [use for hardback bindings]
  • inside front cover [use for paperback bindings]

Not bound

Unbound, as issued.

Unbound; loose sheets laid into printed paper covers.

  • laid into folder: in folded sheet of light cardboard
  • laid into portfolio: in flat, portable container with or without handles, often tied with tapes, or closed with a flap

Disbound; in case; 31 cm.

Standardized spelling notes

dust jacket [aat, binding]
endpapers [aat]
flyleaf [aat]
gray [not grey: AH dictionary]
half title [unless used adjectivally: as in half-title page: AACR2]
pastedown [aat]
paste paper [aat; unless used adjectivally: as in paste-paper wrappers]
shelf mark [rbprov]
title page [unless used adjectivally: as in title-page vignette: AACR2]

Citations

AACR2
Carter, John. ABC for Book Collectors.
Etherington and Roberts. Bookbinding and the Conservation of Books: A Dictionary of Descriptive Terminology.
Glaister. Encyclopedia of the Book.
Hulme, E. Wyndham. Leather for libraries. London : Sound Leather Committee of the Library Assoc., 1905. (*67-215)
RBMS Controlled Vocabularies