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Glossary Page S

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on January 27, 2009 at 5:54:21 pm
 

 

 

S

S.A. / s.a. (Latin: sine anno = without year). no date is listed. This is an old bibliographer's term. If the

correct date is actually known, or can be guessed at, it is often listed in brackets. Usually shown as [ND]

("no date").

saddle stitch. simple form of binding consisting of two or three metal staples along the center fold of a sheaf

of pages. Such books are generally called [booklets] or [pamphlets]. Also called saddle staple,

<i>stapleback, stapled wraps, fold-and-staple. Compare [side stitch]. Most magazines are saddle stitched;

those with a square, flat spine are usually [perfect bound].

salesman's dummy. see [dummy] (sense 1).

same date / sd. indicates the date on the [title page] and the date on the [copyright page] are the same,

evidence the book may be a [first edition].

sans. lacking; without.

SB / sb. softbound; another name for [softcover].

SC / sc. 1. [softcover]. 2. [slipcase].

scarce. refers to an item that might only turn up every two or three years. Not as uncommon as [rare]. This

term has started to go by the wayside with the advent of internet used-book shopping.

science fiction. a type of [fiction] in which the use of science or technology figures importantly. Coined by

science fiction magazine editor Hugo Gernsback in 1929, who had in 1926 called it scientifiction.

Abbreviated SF, sci-fi, scifi.

sci-fi / scifi. [science fiction].

scorched. blackened, and perhaps warped, from being in a fire or near a heat source. Also called <i>singed.

screw-post binding. similar to a [looseleaf] binding, but instead of rings that open up, there are three (or

more) solid metal posts or tubes affixed to the rear cover so that they are vertical when the book is laid

down. Each post is capped with a screw or wingnut which is screwed onto the post. To add or remove

pages, the screws are removed and the front cover is lifted off. This form of binding is not usually used for

commercial publications but rather for business reports and the like.

scrollwork. ornaments resembling long, narrow, ribbon-like strips with rolled, spiral, or convoluted forms.

scuffed. a defect similar to [rubbed], but notably worse, with bits of the surface missing.

SD / sd. see [same date].

S.D. / s.d. (Latin: sine datum, or English: sans date = without date). no date is listed. Usually indicated by

[ND] ("no date").

self-wraps. bound in the same type of paper as the body of the work. For example, newspapers and most

[pamphlets] are self-wraps. Sometimes called self-bound; generally <b>not</b> called [softcover].

sepia-tone. a type of [illustration], usually a photo, with a soft brown quality.

ser. see [series].

serial. refers to a piece of [fiction] published in [parts] rather than as a complete book.

series / ser. group of volumes with a common theme, issued in succession, usually by a single publisher; may

be [fiction] or [nonfiction]. A series is open-ended; in other words, with no foreseeable end, and as such it

differs from a [set].

serigraph. an [illustration] made by silkscreen, in which the image is cut into a stencil adhered to a fine screen,

and ink is squeegeed through the screen onto paper.

set. general term for two or more volumes published together and intended as a group. A set is not

open-ended in nature; in other words, there is a finite amount of information and a planned end to the

publication. The opposite is a [series].

sextodecimo. 16mo. See [size terms].

sewed. (adj.) stitched without a cover. Early [pamphlets] and small [booklets] were usually sewed.

SF / sf. [science fiction].

sgn. [signature].

S/H or s/h. shipping and handling.

shadowed. 1. pages are [yellowed] around the edges, a normal result of the acid content of some types of

paper. 2. part of a page is [yellowed] from being against a slip of acidic paper such as a newspaper

[clipping].

shaken (adj.). describes a book where the binding is damaged: the hinges are [starting] and the [text block] is

beginning to come loose.

shape book. book, usually a children's book or novelty item, which has been [die-cut] or trimmed into an

unusual shape as part of the publication process.

sharkfin. part of a [corgorbled] page that protrudes beyond the edge of the [text block]. Not considered a

serious defect.

sheet. 1. any piece of paper. 2. one whole piece of paper within a binding, having two leaves, and thus four

pages. Compare [leaf], [page].

shelf-back. another name for the [spine].

shopworn. (adj.) having wear caused to a book as it sat in a bookstore waiting to be sold.

shrinkwrap. a layer of thin, tight-fitting, sealed transparent plastic completely enclosing a book, which might

indicate the copy is new and has not been touched or opened since it was published. Shrinkwrap shrinks

continuously over time and will warp the item if it is left in place and intact year after year.

side notes. items printed in the [margins] by the publisher. Compare [margin notes].

side stitch. simple form of binding consisting of two or three staples placed through a sheaf of pages or a

group of [signatures] near the fold, rather than through the fold; the staples are then hidden beneath the

covers. Common in children's [hardcovers], for example, Little Golden Books are side stitched. Such books

are also called stabbed or flat stapled. Compare [saddle stitch].

signature / sgn / sig. group of pages produced by folding a large printed sheet in half, sometimes then folding it

in half several more times so its dimensions are greatly reduced, before binding it into a book. Also called a

<i>gather or gathering. See [size terms]. Compare [autograph], [signed].

signed. having the [autograph] name of a notable person. Compare [signature].

singed (singe: to burn the edges). another term for scorched.

silhouette. an [illustration] showing only the shadow or outline of the subject, usually in profile, usually printed

in solid black but sometimes having added detail. Silhouettes were a common form of [portrait] prior to the

invention of photography.

silver age. refers to collectible [comic books] from about 1955 to the 1970s.

silverfished. damaged by a small boring insect known as a silverfish.

silvered. covered or stamped with silver leaf, usually referring to silver lettering or a decorative silver coloring

on the top edge of the pages. The equivalent term for gold leaf is [gilt].

silver print / silver gelatin print. an early type of photograph printed on special paper treated with silver

nitrate; such prints have a silvery sheen and are highly susceptible to fading.

simulated / sim / simul. imitation.

SKU / sku. Stock Keeping Unit. Usually pronouced "skew." general term for any system of retail product

codes utilizing a unique number code for each specific product. Standardized SKUs are used in the retail

industry to handle computerized inventory chores. Dealers in used books and ephemera generally do not use

standardized SKUs (known as [ISBNs]) but set up their own inventory numbering system for their own

stock.

sl. 1. slightly 2. slight.

S.L. / s.l. (Latin: sine loco = without location). no place of publication is listed. This is an old bibliographer's

term. If the place of publication is actually known, it is listed in brackets. The more recent term is NP ("no

place").

S.L.A.N. / s.l.a.n. (Latin: sine loco, anno, vel nomine = without place, date, or name). the book in hand lists

none of the usual publication data. See [NP].

slander. the circulation of defaming information, usually by word of mouth. Compare [libel].

slanted. does not stand perfectly vertically on shelf; [cocked].

slick. coated with a shiny, smooth surface. More or less equivalent to [glossy], but implying a tough, dense

coating that will withstand much wear and can be easily wiped clean. Many modern books, particularly

[textbooks] and [picture books], have slick covers. Also called coated, laminated, <i>plasticated.

slight / slightly / sl. flawed but not seriously.

slipcase. box or case, usually of cardboard, that holds a book with only the [spine] exposed. Abbreviated

<i>sc or s/c. See also [ribbon pull]. A slipcase with two separate slots is a [double slipcase].

sm. small.

sm8vo. small 8vo. See [size terms].

sm4to. small 4to. See [size terms].

smamped. smeared with something that looks like jam, a fault usually found only on books for young

children. Coined by author and blogger Erica Perl, who blogged about it in 2007. Compare [handsoil].

smooth cut. edges of pages are neatly trimmed and uniform in length, the opposite of [deckle edges]. Also

called guillotined.

smyth-sewed. standard binding technique in which [signatures] are sewn together with thread before being

placed in the covers. (Pronounced SMITH-sohd.) This term comes from the book manufacturing industry

and is not commonly used by bookdealers.

S/N. signed and numbered. Artwork term. Refers to an original print that the artist has signed and numbered,

the number indicating where this copy occurred in the order of printing. For example, 5/100 means copy

number 5 of 100 copies printed.

S.N. / s.n. (Latin: sine nomine = without name). no publisher is listed. This is an old bibliographer's term. If

the publisher is actually known, it is listed in brackets. See also [NP].

softbound. another name for [softcover].

softcover. bound with flexible card or paper covers, the opposite of [hardbound]. The softcover has many

names, including softback, softbound, paperback, paperbound, <i>paperwraps, stiffwraps, wraps,

wrappers. Abbreviated pbk, <i>pp, sb, sc, wp, wr, wrs. Compare [paperback], [self-wraps].

sophisticated. altered to improve value. For example, a [Fine] copy of a [first edition] is combined with one

page from a damaged copy [signed] by the author to produce a Fine signed first edition. The resulting item is

sometimes called a [made-up copy]. A reputable dealer will always disclose such manipulation.

special edition. marketing term which may refer to any kind of feature such as color [illustrations] or [imitation

leather] covers. Not necessarily a valuable book.

spine / sp. general term for the backbone of a book, where the [signatures] are gathered and where the title is

usually printed; in other words, the visible part of a book when shelved. Sometimes called the shelf-back.

The spine is covered with the [backstrip]; the upper end is called the [crown] while the lower end is the

[heel], foot, or tail.

spinefold. refers to the spine of a softcover publication having only a fold-and-staple binding rather than the

square-cut spine of a standard softcover. Such publications include booklets, sheet music (which is often not

actually stapled), and most magazines.

spine leans. another term for [cocked]. Usually describes a leaning [paperback].

spineline. a crease along the length of the spine, a common flaw of softcover and paperback books.

spiral. a type of binding consisting of a plastic or metal spring, each page having holes through which in the

spring is threaded, and the ends of the spring are folded back to hold it in place. Often seen on cookbooks

and books of music. Also called ringbound. Compare [Wire-O Binding].

split. cracked; the cover and [text block] are beginning to come apart. See [sprung].

spray. ornament consisting of a cluster of floral shapes.

spread. (n.) the two side-by-side pages displayed in an open book. Sometimes a single [illustration] occupies

a full spread.

sprinkled. 1. decorated with an even pattern of colored spots; also called mottled or stippled. 2. decorated

by the application of small drops of acid; usually referring to the [boards] of a leather bound book.

Sometimes the density of the speckles is indicated by more specific terms, such as medium sprinkled.

sprung. the binding is completely detached; usually called [disbound]. Prior to being disbound, a damaged

binding is first [starting], then [cracked].

square. 1. referring to the [spine], usually of a paperback, that is not [cocked], [rolled], warped or otherwise

deformed in any way. 2. referring to the shape of a book that measures the same in height as in width.

stabbed. another name for [side stitch].

stamped. 1. letters or decorative motifs impressed onto the binding, with ink or [gilt] being applied to the

impression. When no gilt or ink is applied, the impression is said to be [blind-stamped]. 2. an ink mark, often

the name of an owner, applied to the pages or edges of a book mechanically rather than by hand. Also called

[rubber stamped].

standee. a form of advertising [ephemera] that stands upright. Examples include full-sized images of

celebrities or media characters, which stand on the florr, and smaller ads for products, which stand on a shelf

or counter. The extending piece that holds up the standee is called a kickleg.

stapleback. refers to a book with [saddle stitch] binding.

stapled wraps. refers to a book with [saddle stitch] binding.

started. slightly out of alignment but not detached. Usually refers to a [signature]. Also called pulled.

starting. beginning to come loose, often used to describe a hinge that is not seriously damaged but is not

perfectly tight, as in, front hinge starting. See also [sprung].

state. nearly synonymous with [point of issue]; however, point of issue generally refers to the correction of a

misprint whereas state usually refers to some other change, such as adding text to the [dust jacket]. For

example, a book might be described as a 1st edition, 2nd issue, 2nd state. (Such a book may be called a

[first edition] but would <b>not</b> be a [true first].)

stated. printed in the book. Usually refers to the words first edition printed on the [copyright page], as in, first

edition stated.

std. [stated].

steel engraving. a type of [engraving] in which the original illustration is prepared on a sheet of hard steel.

Steel engravings are sharper and clearer than [copper plate engravings] which steel engravings replaced

about 1820.

stereograph (Greek: stereo = solid). a type of [ephemera] consisting of two nearly identical photos, taken by

a special dual camera, then mounted side by side on a stiff card, so that when viewed with a stereo viewer

(a.k.a. stereoscope, stereopticon), the image appears to be three dimensional. Popularity peaked in the

1880s and fell off by the 1920s. Compare [View-Master].

stereotype edition. an early type of [reprint] in which the printing is made from exact copies of the original

plates, the new plates obtained by making molds of the originals. Compare [facsimile].

Stevengraph / Stevensgraph. a type of [ephemera] consisting of a decorative, usually pictorial, ribbon of

woven silk cloth, having the appearance of a miniature tapestry, and frequently used for a bookmark.

Created by Thomas Stevens of England in the late 1880s; now highly collectible.

sticker pull / sticker scar. a defect, usually seen on the cover of a [paperback], where a sticker has been

removed, leaving a small, white bare patch. Other descriptive phrases for this type of defect include gloss

layer damaged, fragment of pictorial paper overlay missing, laminate removed from cover, etc.

stiffwraps. a [softcover] book with stiff, sturdy covers.

stippled. another name for [mottled].

stns. stains.

stock. 1. paper; the term is usually used in combination with an adjective, as in acid-free stock. 2. inventory.

strapwork. ornaments consisting of long, narrow lines or fillets, often crossed, folded or interlaced; mainly

used for [rules] and borders.

stripped. said of a [mass market paperback] when the front cover is torn off and missing. In the new-book

business, when such a book fails to sell, the book may be returned to the publisher or distributor for credit,

but due to prohibitive return shipping costs, the seller is required only to mail back the front cover. The seller

thus strips the front cover off the book, returns the same, and tosses the rest. Stripped books should never

be sold because they were never paid for: they are essentially stolen books.

stub. narrow strip of paper indicating a separate page has been sewn into the book. Such stubs are necessary

in cases where a special page, such as a color [illustration], is to be bound into an otherwise normal

[signature]; however, a stub may also indicate where a page has been cut away. Sometimes called a <i>tab.

subsidy publisher. another name for [vanity press].

subtitle. the second part of a two-part title. In the 1800s, subtitles were often used as advertising and

frequently consisted of several long paragraphs describing every feature and highlight of a book.

suede. leather with a soft fuzzy finish, as opposed to leather with a slick, smooth, or stiff finish. (Pronounced

<i>swayed.)

sunned. faded or discolored from exposure to light. Also called aged, browned, <i>shadowed, tanned,

toned, yellowed.

supered paper. printing industry term for paper coated with a super fine [glossy] finish.

 


 

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