Ever since Gutenberg set modern printing methodology in motion in the mid-fifteenth century, books have been an indelible part of our lives. For many people, reading and acquiring books is a lifelong passion — some will horde their books like precious gems or ingots of gold; others will read and pass along books to others as they acquire more. Regardless of where anyone falls on the spectrum of a book aficionado, from passionate reader to author, it’s helpful to know the parts of a book — particularly if you’re a new author looking to publish your first book or if you’re contemplating writing a book for publication.
Books are generally categorized under two broad headings: fiction and non-fiction. While both types of books share common parts, non-fiction books have parts not found in fiction books. Here then, are the most common parts/features of books:
Book Covers
You can’t judge a book by its cover, but you can rest assured all books have covers. Whether hard or soft, a cover binds together and helps protect the interior pages of the book. In modern times, in addition to the book’s title and author, the front and back covers are often printed with eye-catching graphics and colors.
Title Page
Typically the first printed page inside of the book, the title page repeats the book’s title (and subtitle), author’s name, and the name of the publisher often accompanied by the publisher’s logo. For books that are often re-published after updates or revisions, the title page will include an edition number.
Edition Notice
Also known as the colophon, the edition notice is typically found on the reverse side of the title page. Besides noting the edition of the publication (e.g., first edition, second edition, etc.), you’ll find a copyright notice, registration with the Library of Congress, the publishers location and address, an ISBN (International Standard Book Number), where the book was printed, the fonts used, and other legal restrictions and limitations
Frontispiece
A frontispiece, commonly found in older books published prior to the 20th century, is a decorative or informative illustration (often an engraving) found opposite the title page (on the left side when the book is open).
Dedication
As its name implies, the dedication is a brief expression (one or two sentences) of gratitude to a particular person (or persons) by the author for providing assistance, inspiration, or moral support when the book was written. The dedication can occupy its own page — typically right before the first chapter — or be included on the colophon page at the front of the book.
Acknowledgements
A common feature of non-fiction books, an acknowledgment page is akin to an expanded dedication page. Acknowledgements can be relatively brief or occupy more than one page. In most instances, acknowledgments recognized colleagues and other scholars who have helped the author formulate and develop the topic of the book as well as reading first drafts and offering suggestions, improvements, and corrections. Acknowledgements may be found at the beginnings or ends of books.
If you have any questions about the Parts of a Book, give us a call at 330-597-8560. We’re happy to help you get the most out of your printing project.
