Dear Don,
The term octavo means that the sheet that made up the section was=20
folded three times.
Traditionally, the book's size was given by naming the parent sheet for=20
the section and how many times it was folded (this is the simplest case=20
- it can get much more complicated).
Common paper sizes went by the names:
Crown 15" x 20"
Royal 20" x 25"
Imperial 22" x 30"
Elephant 23" x 28"
etc.
The number of folds were:
1 - Folio
2 - Quarto (4to)
3 - Octavo (8vo or 8mo)
etc.
So, for example, Audubon's "Birds of America" is describe as Elephant=20
Folio: sheet size 23"x28" (Elephant), folded once (Folio), resulting in=20
a book size of 23"x14", or thereabouts.
This worked well until machine made paper came in, which came in a wide=20
range of new sizes. Now a days, the terms octavo, folio.... are used=20
generically to describe the books final size. They may or may not have=20
any relationship to how the sections are made up. What the bookseller=20
is telling you is that he considers octavo to mean any regularly shaped=20
book that is between 7 1/2" to 8 1/2".
You might want to check Oak Knoll's web site. They should have a good=20
book on bibliography that can help you decipher catalogue descriptions=20
- my numbers above may be wrong since I'm doing it from memory.
Hope this helps,
Frank Lehmann
Lehmann Bindery
On Mon, 9 Aug 2004 09:49:24 -0700, Don Drake wrote:
> Looking up books on abebooks. I'm routinely finding books that seem=20
> to be an exact match for the volume in my hand except for the stated=20
> size. For example, with a 1954 first edition "A View From Pompey's=20
> Head" by Hamilton Basso in my hand, the finished case measures=20
> 8.5x5.75". Abe book listings, when the show a size for the book say=20
> "8vo - over 7=BE" - 9=BE" tall". What's the story behind this? An=20
> untrimmed measurement?
>=20
> Perplexed,
> Don Drake
> Dreaming Mind
>=20
> ddrake@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> IM: stitchbyhand
> http://www.dreamingmind.com
> http://www.hughstump.com
> (510) 537-9711
>=20
> ***********************************************
> =20
> Spring[binding]Hath Sprung
> Worldwide Springback Bind-O-Rama and Online Exhibition
> Full information at <http://www.philobiblon.com>
> ENTRY DEADLINE -- September 1, 2004
> Book_Arts-L FAQ and Archive=20
> at: <http://www.philobiblon.com>
> ***********************************************
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=20
Spring[binding]Hath Sprung
Worldwide Springback Bind-O-Rama and Online Exhibition
Full information at <http://www.philobiblon.com>
ENTRY DEADLINE -- September 1, 2004
=20
Book_Arts-L FAQ and Archive at: <http://www.philobiblon.com>
***********************************************