Review Copy – A copy of a book sent out for review prior to publication. Review copies may be marked by a note on an endpaper or flyleaf (rare today), or by a slip of paper inserted into the book, which is more common at present.

The keyword field is useful if you know the illustrator's name or some other defining aspect like the book's binding (perhaps it's leather or cloth). Mounted – An illustration can be mounted (as opposed to printed directly) on a blank sheet in a book. Limited Edition – An edition issued in a stated, usually small, number of copies; the lower the number, the more valuable the copy. Endpapers – A single sheet, half of it pasted to the inside of the binding (the pastedown), and half forming a blank leaf at the beginning or end of the book (the front or rear free endpaper).Broadside – A printing, often a poem, which occurs on a single sheet of paper and only on one side; the verso (other side) is blank. When printed on both sides, the sheet becomes a “broadsheet”. State – Minor changes made to a portion of the edition during the manufacturing stage and before all of the books were complete and released. The changes can be intentional. For example, a different state may be caused by a correction in the text or illustrations, an insertion of cancels or advertisements, or a different paper used without the intention of creating a separate issue. The changes can also be accidental; for example, a variation in the text or illustrations might occur during the printing. The term does not refer to condition. Association copy – A copy once owned by a well-known person or author or someone connected with the author or the book. The book may be inscribed by the author to the person or simply from the library of that person. Collecting ‘association copies’ can be one of the more exciting areas of book collecting. Beveled – Boards (edges or boards) that are cut at an oblique angle prior to covering, as opposed to the standard 90 degree cut.

Octavo – A book size resulting from folding a sheet with three right angle folds. In bookselling terminology, a book measuring from about eight to ten inches in height. Fine copy – The highest grade of a book’s physical condition, generally taken to mean a fresh, largely unread copy of a book, with perhaps the merest trace of wear. Condition grades then descends through “near fine”, “very good plus”, “very good” and “good”. “Poor” or “reading” copies are not for purposes of collectability. If possible identify the book's date of publication. Complete the date fields - if you have identified the exact year of publication then put the same date into both fields. If you are unsure, you may to wish to search for books between two defined dates - eg 1870 and 1880. Book formats – The traditional terms in use for describing book formats, which are derived from early printing methodology and the size of early handmade sheets of paper. The following is offered as a guide to convert book formats to approximate book sizes –

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Bindings – A term generally used in the antiquarian book world to mean Fine Bindings, of which there are numerous styles. Some examples include Antique, Cambridge Style, La Greque, Dos-A-Dos, Etruscan, and Spanish Calf. Rebound – The original binding of the book has been removed and a new binding has been attached and re-sewn. Prelims (preliminaries) – Any material that precedes the main text of the book. Prelims are usually set and printed after the main text; they are numbered with lower-case Roman numerals (rather than Arabic numerals) so that any late changes to the content or extent of the prelims do not affect the pagination of the text.

Look inside the book and identify the book's publisher - complete the publisher field but leave out terms like limited, company or press. Replacement Value – The amount you would expect to pay for the book or ephemera item from a dealer or retailer. Bookplate – A label on the front pastedown or flyleaf or sometimes elsewhere in the book, used to mark ownership. Unless it is the book plate of a well-known person, this usually decreases the value of a book. Alternatively, a bookplate is sometimes signed by the author and then included in the book. While not as valuable as having the signature on the book itself, this can be a nice collectible.Covers – The everyday term for the covered boards of a book. The front and rear surface of a binding, as opposed to the spine. These may be composed of card, wood or other materials, covered by cloth, paper or leather. Inscribed – A book in which a written inscription has been made by the author, to a specified person. This is not to be confused with a non-authorial inscription, which would be written name, note, phrase, or comment made by someone other than the author (usually a previous owner). Clamshell case – A protective case with hinged side that securely retain the book within while permitting easy inspection, not necessarily (or often at the present) made from clam shells.

Ex-Library – Previously owned by a public lending library, and usually accompanied by the usual library stamps, marks, etc. These are generally not valued by collectors. Gift inscription – A non-authorial inscription, written by the giver a book to another person. This most often lowers the collectability of a book unless, for example, the book is a gift from one famous person to another or perhaps someone associated with the book. Ephemera – An item that was usually created for reading and then subsequent disposal. Examples include letters, advertisements, magazines and newspapers. Good – A description of condition implying some degree of wear but structural soundness and reasonably good appearance. A book described as good will not usually appeal to the fastidious collector unless the book is extremely rare, but books in good condition may prove a bargain for the general collector or when fine copies are priced out of budget.Colophon – A printed statement at the end of the book stating usually the title of the book, the publisher and or printer, and the place and date of publication. Provenance – The history of ownership for a given copy of a book, manuscript or work of art. Often, indications of previous ownership are given by bookplates, inscriptions, special bindings and similar features. An especially noteworthy provenance may add substantial value to a book. Impression – Synonymous with printing. The number of copies of an edition printed from one type setting. One edition may have more than one impression.