Book History

Front 1

Boustrophedon

Back 1

Written lines alternating from right-to-left, then left-to-right. Literally "as the ox plows" (Greek).

Front 2

Cuneiform

Back 2

Sumerian wedge-shaped writing. Literally "sacred carvings" or "writings of the gods." Generally written from right to left.

Front 3

Hieroglyph

Back 3

Egyptian pictorial writing, used later by the Babylonians, Assyrians, and others.

Front 4

Hieratic

Back 4

A form of Egyptian cursive writing based on hieroglyphics. Generally on papyrus written in ink with a reed pen. Used by priests.

Front 5

Demotic

Back 5

A form of Egyptian cursive writing based on hieroglyphics. Used for business and literary texts.

Front 6

Rosetta Stone

Back 6

Used to decipher Egyptian hieroglyphics; a black basalt stone found in 1799 with an inscription in hieroglyphics, demotic writing, and Greek.

Front 7

Pictograph or pictogram

Back 7

Picture of a thing, symbolizing that thing (usually simplified in form).

Front 8

Ideograph or ideogram

Back 8

Picture symbolizing an idea or concept.

Front 9

Phonogram

Back 9

A picture that equals a sound; either a syllable or letter.

Front 10

Logogram (or logograph)

Back 10

A single written character which represents a complete word. E.g., 8 is a logogram for "eight" (in English).

Front 11

Determinative

Back 11

A sign that indicates the category or context and thus helps determine the meaning.

Front 12

Lapidary writing

Back 12

Writing carved in stone; also known as "monumental writing." Roman square capitals" refer to the written version.

Front 13

Majuscule

Back 13

CAPITAL LETTERS (UPPER CASE)

Front 14

Minuscule

Back 14

small letters (lower case)

Front 15

Papyrus

Back 15

Writing material made from cyperus papyrus plant (native to Nile River region).

Front 16

Parchment

Back 16

Sheep or goatskin prepared for writing or printing.

Front 17

Vellum

Back 17

Calf, lamb, or kidskin prepared for writing or printing.

Front 18

Block book (xylographic book)

Back 18

Book printed from wood blocks (illustration and text).

Front 19

Codex

Back 19

The modern rectangular form of the book (plural: codices).

Front 20

Palimpsest

Back 20

Parchment reused by erasing old writing; sometimes previous writing shows through or is recoverable by means of ultraviolet light.

Front 21

Leaf

Back 21

(Latin: folium) one leaf equals two pages of a manuscript or book.

Front 22

Foliate

Back 22

To number one side of a leaf (paginate: both sides are numbered).

Front 23

Illuminate/Illumination

Back 23

Decorated initials, borders, and miniatures, using colors and gold.

Front 24

Historiated initial

Back 24

A letter containing an identifiable scene or figures.

Front 25

Miniature

Back 25

A painted illustration in a manuscript (from "minium" or cinnabar, a red pigment used by "miniators").

Front 26

Rubricate

Back 26

Using red ink in a manuscript for emphasis (rubric) often for a title or chapter heading.

Front 27

Incipit

Back 27

Latin: "here begins..."

Front 28

Explicit

Back 28

Announcement of the end of the work or textual unit; sometimes introduces the colophon.

Front 29

Colophon

Back 29

Statement at the end of some manuscripts and printed books, giving information about its production, such as the name of the copylist or printer, date, title, author, etc.

Front 30

Exemplar

Back 30

Official copy of a scholastic text made by a stationer under the control of a medieval university used by a scribe or student; a copy text.

Front 31

Pecia system

Back 31

Latin: "piece." Used from the 13th century on, a system in which university-approved exemplars were divided into sections and hired out by stationers to scribes for copying.

Front 32

Book of hours

Back 32

Book used in the private devotions (by lay people). Central text: Little Office of the Virgin Mary (or Hours of the Virgin). Includes other sections such as a calendar, litany of the saints, Office of the Dead, etc. Known from the 10th century; more common from the end of the 12th century.

Front 33

Gospels

Back 33

The four books that begin the New Testament: Matthew, Mark, Luke & John.

Front 34

Missal

Back 34

Mass services for the year, including prayers, rites, etc. Used by a priest.

Front 35

Psalter

Back 35

The Book of Psalms for either liturgical or private devotional use (especially before the emergence of the book of hours).

Front 36

Breviary

Back 36

Prayers, hymns, etc. for daily recitation of the canonical hours.

Front 37

Cellulose fiber

Back 37

Fiber from plants, e.g. cotton, linen, hemp, jute, etc.

Front 38

Couching

Back 38

Transferring a freshly made sheet of paper onto another surface such as felt.

Front 39

Deckle

Back 39

Wood frame that rests on or is hinged on the mold. It creates the deckle edge.

Front 40

Fourdrinier machine

Back 40

Standard papermaking machine invented in France by Nicolas-Louis Robert circa 1798 (perfected 1806). First machine to make a continuous roll of paper (web).

Front 41

Furnish

Back 41

The materials from which paper is manufactured.

Front 42

Hollander beater

Back 42

Piece of equipment used for Western papermaking that beats and hydrates the fibers prior to sheet forming.

Front 43

Laid paper

Back 43

Paper made on a laid-line screen (with chain and wire marks).

Front 44

Mold (or mould)

Back 44

Wood frame covered with a surface on which paper is formed.

Front 45

Post

Back 45

Stack of freshly made paper sheets (interleaved with felts).

Front 46

Pulp

Back 46

Substance that paper is made from, i.e. beaten fiber and water.

Front 47

Rag

Back 47

Cotton or linen cloth used for pulp.

Front 48

Size (or sizing)

Back 48

Products applied to the surface of paper that can decrease the absorbency and act as an adhesive to strengthen the sheet. Can be synthetic, animal (glue), or vegetable (potato starch).

Front 49

Stuff

Back 49

Pulp ready for papermaking

Front 50

Waterleaf

Back 50

Unsized paper

Front 51

Wove (or woven paper)

Back 51

Paper made on a woven wire screen.