There are many "trade" terms in the book business, and it can be most confusing at  times. You may find this guide to be quite a useful tool.  It has been applied alphabetically for easy reference.   If you find it helpful please let us know at the bottom.

ARC -  Advance reader's copy. A pre-trade edition with a far less print run.

Association Copy -  A book owned by or inscribed to an important or famous person.

Bastard Title -  Half title page.

Boards - The front and back covers.

Bookplate - A sticker to be signed by an author, and stuck into the book.

Chapbook - A pamphlet sized book.

Chip - A missing piece of the jacket.

Colophon - The last page of the book.

Copyright - The legal right granted for exclusive publication.

Dust Jacket - The paper cover.

DJ - The dust jacket.

Ephemera - Non book items by author.

FFEP - First front end page.

Flatsigned - Term coined by Stephen King to describe a signature by an author directly onto the page of the book. Not inscribed to a person, or on a bookplate stuck in the book.

Flyleaf - The first page in book, same as FFEP.

Fore Edge - Where the book opens.

Foxing - Brown spotting.

Gutter - The hinge.

Half Title Page - Only the title, before the title page.

Headband - The small strip of cloth at the top of the spine.

Hinge - Where the binding meets the flyleaf.

Hinged - When the hinge is starting to come loose.

Inscribed - Signed to someone.

Leaves - The pages of the book.

Number Line - The denotation of the edition.

OP - Out of print.

Paste Down - The paper on the inside of the boards.

Price Clipped - When the price has been cut from the dust jacket.

Proof - Earliest printed edition of a book.

Remainder Mark - A mark made by publisher to show unsold copies.

Rolled - Spine leans to one side or the other.

Signature - Autograph.    Also a group of pages.

State - Differences in text or look of the book.

Trade Edition - The standard edition of a book.

Trade Paperback - A large sized paperback.

Wraps - Paperbacks.