Antiquarian & Collectible Book Term Dictionary - W

Words with definitions starting with the letter W related to collectible, rare and antiquarian books.

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WAF or w.a.f. -With all faults, a description used mostly by auctioneers and booksellers to describe books that are suspected of being imperfect. The term is used to warn the buyer that the item may not be returned for any reason. It is, in other words, sold "as is."

w/ - With

w/o - Without

Warped - Refers to condition; the boards or paperback covers are bent and twisted.

Washed - When a map, print, or pages of a book are cleaned in a mild chemical solution to remove stains, writing, or acid from the pages. Also known as re-sized.

Watermark - Translucent letters or a design in a sheet of paper. Usually can be seen only by holding the sheet to the light.

Waterstain or waterstained - Stain on a book cover or leaves caused by water or other liquid. May cause discoloration and sometimes shrinking.

Wire coil - An inexpensive type of binding material used to make a spine on a spiral bound book. Also known as wire comb.

Wire comb - An inexpensive type of binding material used to make a spine on a spiral bound book. Also known as wire coil.

With all faults - A description used mostly by auctioneers and booksellers to describe books that are suspected of being imperfect. The term is used to warn the buyer that the item may not be returned for any reason. It is, in other words, sold "as is." Also known as WAF.

WN or wn - Worn

Wood engraving - An illustration made from a highly polished block of wood. Also known as wood engraving. Also known as woodcut and cut.

Woodcut - An illustration made from a highly polished block of wood. Also known as wood engraving. Also known as wood engraving and cut.

Worming, Worming, Wormholes - Small holes resulting from bookworms (the larvae of various beetles.)

Wove paper - A paper that has been made on a fine-mesh mold which, when held to the light, shows no marks or lines. It has been the typical paper used in bookbinding since the early 19th century.

WR or wr - Wear

Wrap(s) - Wrappers, paperback, the outer covers of a paper bound book or pamphlet. Not to be confused with Dust Wrapper.

Wrap-around Band - The band of printed paper the length of the dust wrapper of a book. Wrap-around bands contain favorable reviews and are put around some copies of books. Obviously fragile, they are of interest to collectors.

Wrappers - The outer covers of a paper bound book or pamphlet. Not to be confused with Dust Wrapper.

WT or wt - Weight

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