Book printing codes

[Playbill]

On the reverse of the title page of many books there is usually printed the publishing details - date, addresses, etc.There is also on many books I have, a series of numbers; not the ISBN number which I understand but other numbers that I think may refer to the actual printing details. On one book this is 10 9 8 etc down to 1, on another 10 down to 3. But a third book has 1 3 7 9 10 8 6 4 2.

Does anyone know what they mean and how to interprate them?

[brachiopod]

It's to do with the editions, print runs, impressions, and re-prints.

For example, a new book is published that proves to be unexpectedly popular, so a second print run is made to satisfy demand. Although it carries the same cover, binding etc, it is still not a true 'First Edition' and so carries a different set of numbers on the fly sheet.

I seem to remember that a First Edition carries;

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 or something.

The order and numbers will be different for re-prints, second, and subsequent editions etc

I'll have to ask missus pod for the exact way the coding works, as she works in the book trade.

[Playbill]

Thanks brachiopod.

As an ex-printer (although not of books!) I thought I was on the right track.

[brachiopod]

As an ex-printer, Playbill, you'll probably understand my frustration with the young know-it-all at work this week who insisted that the terms 'font' 'point size' and 'justification' were terms specifically invented for Microsoft Word......

[Playbill]

I am not just an ex-printer but also an ex-typesetter. I was using (and still have) equipment very much the same as William Caxton had a few hundred years ago.

Apart from the terms you listed, the printing trade has many others often linked to sizes and typefaces and now used in wider contexts.

However, my favourite print word is wayzgoose - a printers' annual dinner or picnic. I must find out where this originated.

[xrayspecs]

Picas - that's a good word, and I used to have a ruler that measured them!

[Playbill]

Pica = 12 points and there are 72 points to the inch.

Here's a few more:

Nonpareil is/was 6 point type.

Galley proof made by wiping a bit of ink over the type while it sat in a shallow tray called a galley, then placing a sheet of paper on it to get a rough, quick print.

Quoin is an expanding metal wedge for locking type into place.

Diss, short for distributing type into typecase. Not a good word to use on the street nowadays!