@ sign
symbol used in the formation of e-mail addresses (“@”)
A/D converter
electronic component for converting analogue signals into digital signals
abacus
mechanical counting aid for calculating the four basic arithmetic operations and extracting a root
abbreviation
time- and/or space-saving textual short forms on coins, seals or in handwriting
abbreviator
writer in the papal chancery who are expert in abbreviations and produce drafts of papal bulls and briefs
academic book
book primarily specific to research and teaching
academic library
library whose collection is primarily focused on academia and research
academic publishing house
specialist publisher of academic books and journals
academy
term for an art school or a learned society dating back to the time of the ancient Greek philosopher Plato
acidity (paper)
an important consideration in papermaking because increased acidity levels (resulting from processes such as sizing) reduce durability
Adelslexikon
reference book providing information in short form of the history, names, coats of arms and property of the German nobility
adhesive seal
rubberised, round, oval or angular seal used by a public authority, company or private person
AF
abbreviation for autofocus, the capability of cameras and scanners to focus automatically
ageing resistance (of paper)
property of paper to be durable against internal material changes or external influences such as light or atmospheric pollution
Agnus Dei
the lamb of God, a widespread symbol for Jesus Christ, represented in art as the Easter lamb holding a flag of victory
ahnentafel
German record of a person’s ancestors numbered and listed in a fixed sequence of ascent
album
a collection contained in the form of a book into which objects may be put or glued
Aldines
small format printed matter that was published by the printer Aldus Manutius and his descendants in Venice between 1494 and 1598
aliasing
stepped on-screen display of round or oblique shapes, which can be compensated for optically with anti-aliasing software
almanac
normally a small-format calendar or paperback appearing annually
Almanach de Gotha
almanac that served as a directory for the classification and genealogy of European nobility
alphabet
character set of an alphabetical writing system in a classified order
alphabetisation
children’s, young people’s or adults’ learning of the techniques of reading and writing
ambo
platform built out of stone in medieval churches, predecessor of the pulpit
Ambrosiana (Biblioteca Ambrosiana)
library founded in Milan in 1602
anachronism
false temporal classification of persons or events
anagram
forming a word by rearranging the letters of another word
analects
the fruits of reading: a collection of quotes and passages
analogue
in IT, a continuous, constant and infinitely variable process, also serves as a term for pre-digital media
ancillary rights
legal rights of use arising from a primary right that a publisher passes onto to a third party for the purposes of creating paperback editions, film versions or altered forms of a work
andachtsbilder
images of Christ, the Virgin Mary or saints, for private devotional use
annals
medieval form of history writing employing strict chronological sequencing and concisely formulated facts
anonym
a work that appears without naming their author
anonymous
withholding the name or identity of the person responsible
anonymous lexicon
reference book that identifies authors who are unnamed in their writings, or who have published work under a pen-name
anthology
thematically related compilation of texts by various authors (florilegium)
anti-Semitism
rejection of and struggle against the Jews on religious, nationalist and racist grounds
Antiqua
group of Latin letters with round, and so not broken, letterforms
antiquarian bookshop
bookshop with books that are not subject to fixed price regulations, plus newspapers, sheet music and hand-written documents etc.
aphorism
maxim or adage, often also metaphorical
App
short form of application or software application
aquatint
artistic form of intaglio printmaking
arabesque
tendrilled ornamentation with strongly stylised leafwork
archaeology
the science that deals with the cultural development of mankind on the basis of its material residues and legacy
archive
facility for the permanent safekeeping of written material which stems from the administration and correspondence of state and private institutions
archive library
collection site for library presentation copies of physical and digital media, which the library collects, stores and makes accessible and available
armarium
term for a repository for the safekeeping of valuable objects in the Middle Ages, also used for libraries and archives
art book
elaborately designed book with original graphic illustrations by an important visual artist
Art Nouveau
a period of art history in the late 19th and early 20th century which also had a tremendous influence on the design of books
art paper
glazed or matt-coated paper particularly suited to the printing of images
art prints
graphic art, often of artistic standard, reproduced using print technology
artists’ book
a stand-alone work of art realized in the form of a book which is intended to be readable unlike a book art object
Arts and Crafts Movement
a design movement that began in England in around 1880 lasting until about 1920, which reunited art and handicrafts
ASCII
American Standard Code for Information Interchange, originally arising as a teleprinter coding of characters by means of numbers
Asian printing techniques
printing techniques that contain the great diversity of Chinese, Japanese and Korean writing and their paper quality
assignats
paper money from the time of the French Revolution, originally covered by confiscated church property, later devalued by inflation
Assyriology
a field within Oriental studies which deals with the culture and history of the Middle East, principally on the basis of cuneiform script documents
atlas
compilation of thematically related illustrated panels, geographic or thematic maps
auction
sales auction in which the price is established by increasing bids or by decreasing the price and is then fixed by the fall of the hammer
auction catalogue
index of objects on offer for public sale at auction with precise descriptions and estimates of the price
audiovisual media
media that makes integrated access to texts, sounds and moving images available to the user
aureola
a symbol in art in the form of a halo or band of light around the head
author
the writer of a work who thus acquires its intellectual property rights
author (personal author)
writer or intellectual creator of a work
autobiography
written account of the author’s own life
autograph
a work transcribed in the author’s own hand (a letter, manuscript, etc.)
autopsy
description of an object after its examination with one’s own eyes
back printing
second print cycle that prints the second page of a sheet and follows face printing
banishment
a temporary or lifelong ban on residence imposed as a penalty
Bänkelsänger
wandering circulator of news who performed sung moritats and ballads, and also showed pictures at the same time
Baroque
period in European history between 1560 and 1730, the age of the Counter-Reformation and absolutism; stylistic term in art history
barter
a form of trade that dispenses with the use of money in preference of the direct exchange of goods
bastard title page
page preceding the actual title page of a book with a short line referencing the name of the work
batch composition
typesetting of complex texts
Bauhaus
art and design institute active in Weimar, Dessau, style- and trendsetting through its creativity and teaching methods
belly band
a strip of paper stretched over the dust jacket of a book carrying promotional text
Benedictines
oldest existing Western religious order, which lives according to the Rule of Saint Benedict of Nursia from the 6th century
Berliner format
widespread standard newspaper format with a double-page size of 470 × 630 mm
Berne Convention
international convention dating from 1886 guaranteeing authors’ rights over their works of literature, art and music
bestsellers
books that sell quickly and in great numbers, which requires, as a rule, large marketing campaigns
Bézier curve
special mathematically defined curve with two endpoints and two supporting points with great significance for computer graphics and typography
Bible
collected holy writings of Judaism and Christianity
Bible paper
thin wood-free paper with high fastness and high grade opacity for the production of books of lasting value
bibliography
systematic catalogue of media that is prepared according to unifying principles such as time period or other characteristics
bibliomania
compulsive passion for collecting books that goes as far as violating moral and legal standards
bibliophilia
love of books leading to the building of a private library, often turning into the collection of rare and special editions
bilingual inscription
an inscription or handwriting giving the same text in two languages
binding
the process of combining single pages or folded sheets using thread or wire
binding book price
in Germany and Austria, books are subject to binding sales prices, with the exception of second-hand books
binding copy
book with a flexible cover directly stuck to the text block
biography
account of a person’s life or a collection containing the description of several lives
blank
deliberately planned as a blank page without content but included in the page count
blind embossing
a book cover decorated using stamps, burnishers, blocks etc., and without using ink or leaf metal
blind text
meaningless text to enable the checking of the visual appearance when designing layouts
block book
book with pages only printed on one side, often furnished with pictures, printed with woodblocks using a rubbing technique without the use of a printing press
block letters
a script suitable for printing (as opposed to handwriting)
blockbuster
a term in television and cinema for a hugely successful production
blog
a web diary written in public on the internet (“web log”)
blue books
collections of documents in which matters of foreign policy of individual states are published in characteristic colours: blue being the colour of the first such publications in England
blurb
the text on the dust jacket of a book that usually provides information on the contents and the author as well as other works by the same publisher
body painting
body art with direct application of paint to the skin which, unlike tattooing, is only temporary
body text typeface
predominant typeface of a printed work in which the main justified paragraphs of the text, distinct from the headings, is set
body type
in terms of form and size, the primary font used in a printed work
book art
handcrafted accentuation in book design and manufacture in terms of the typography, layout, illustration and binding
book art movement
reform movement arising as a reaction against industrial book production around 1900
book burning
burning of printed matter, most often demonstratively carried out in public, of the publications with content subject to official disapproval or by condemned authors
book clasps
elements (clips made of metal or straps) most often placed on the leading edge of a book to avoid it falling open
book club
club whose members undertake to regularly purchase special low-price editions of books
book decoration
ornamental or pictorial elements for the decoration of a book, such as borders, title edging or publishers’ marks
book fair
book trade sector event that may also have the character of an exhibition as a fair for customers, often involving authors and readers as well
book format
originally indicated the number of leaves per folded sheet (2 in a Folio, 4 in a Quart, 8 in an Octavo)
book genre
subset of book type classified according to aspects of form, content, target readership or use and function
book illustration
the pictorial furnishing of a book, which may also encompass ornamental accessories such as initials and vignettes
book object
art objects tending towards book form, where the artist in part views books as a raw material
book of hours
prayer book popular in the Middle Ages with psalms and devotional texts for each hour of the day
book of tables
collections of scientific or mathematical tables or charts
book paper
machine-finished printing paper with high leaf thickness and low transparency
book plundering
the looting of the libraries of the disenfranchised and the expelled, primarily in the Nazi period
book price fixing
although price fixing is prohibited for most goods, in the book-selling trade, prices set by the publishing house apply for all vendors (in Germany)
book printing
printing of books and brochures that contain mostly text
book trade
the business of the production, marketing and distribution of books and other media in the form of publishing houses, book dealers and bookshops
book tub
waterproof and easy-to-transport container for unbound books in the pre-industrial era
book-form
physical form of storing long, often illustrated texts (in scroll, codex or leporello form) made from papyrus, parchment or paper
bookbinder
occupation in the print industry requiring formal training that deals with the manual or industrial manufacture of book covers and bindings
booklet
brochure-like supplement to a compact disc
bookmark
placeholder, digital or otherwise, inserted into a text for the rapid retrieval of a reader's place
bookplate (ex-libris)
small-format graphic print or label stuck inside a book as a mark of ownership
books on demand
protected trademark of a system providing temporarily digitally cached books upon customer request
bookseller
a company which is active as a bookseller and/or distributor with its own shop
bookwheel
rotating bookstand allowing several open books to be read simultaneously
bookworm
book pest whose larvae eat through the pages of books; also figuratively a passionate reader of books
border
term for vignettes, title framing and other ornamental forms
born-digital materials
media originally created on, or with the use of, digital devices
from 1825 the short form of Börsenverein der Deutschen Buchhändler (tr: Stock Exchange Association of German Book Dealers), since 1990 of the Börsenverein des Deutschen Buchhandels (tr: Stock Exchange Association of German Book Trade )
boycott
the exclusion of persons, companies or states from business and trade in the pursuit of economic, social or political aims
Braille script
script pressed into paper from the rear side, which can be read by touch with the fingertip; for the blind
breviary
liturgical book containing the daily acts of worship
brief
term for a short papal decree
broadsheet
normally a sheet printed on one side only, primarily from the 15th and 16th centuries
brocaded paper
coloured paper decorated with embossed metal leaf
browser
computer program for the rendering of internet-based content on screen
Bücher dispute
conflict centred on fixed shop prices and discounts in the German book trade in the late 19th century
bulletin
daily report, daily military orders, official communiqué
Byte
an 8 Bit (binary digits) unit of data that assume 256 different values
Byzantine iconoclasm
dispute concerning the worship of religious images in the Byzantine church in the 8th and 9th centuries
Byzantine studies
the study of the history, culture and population of the Byzantine empire
cadastre
a state register of real estate ownership in a country, used as a basis for taxation
cadet corps
a military school for young boys
calendar
an overview of the days, weeks and months of the year as well as annual festivals and holidays
calendar reform (Roman)
the transition from the Julian to the Gregorian calendar in 1582 which involved skipping 10 days of the year and a revised leap-year system
calender
a machine with a roller-system that improves the appearance of paper by means of smoothing, compressing and coating it
calendering
the smoothing of the sheet paper surface using pressure rollers
calf binding
durable book cover with deep folds
calico
a cotton textile that has been used for the purposes of book binding since in the 19th century
calligraphy
an ornate, handscript-based art form utilising a feather or brush
Calvinism
term coined by the Lutherans for the teachings of the Swiss reformer Johannes Calvin and the Reformed Church
camera obscura
optical experimental set-up enabling the projection of an upside-down image by means of a hole or lens
cameralism
a German form of mercantilist economic policy with strong support for agriculture and demographic growth
cameralistics
a period of training and education that was a requirement in the 18th and 19th centuries for employment in German public administration with a focus on financial administration and public policy science
camouflage publication
political writings issued with innocuous and misleading titles and covers in order to avoid the attentions of a state censor
Cancellaria Apostolica
The Papal Chancellery
canon
a member of a cathedral chapter or collegiate church that contributes to a common liturgy
Capitalis
monumental typescript using Latin uppercase lettering
capitals
as the term majuscule (letter case), a name for the capital letters of an alphabet
card index
title records or units of information recorded on individual cards and stored in a defined sorting order in catalogue cupboards
cardboard
a flat substance made of plant fibres, with one or more layers and a mass per unit area of 600 g/m² and over
caricature
a comically exaggerated portrayal of one or more persons or a set of social circumstances
Carlsbad Decrees
measures passed in 1819 in the wake of the murder of the author August von Kotzebue which sought to censor the press and clamp down on freedoms of expression
Carolingian minuscule
a handwritten script developed around 800 AD during the Carolingian Renaissance, combining uppercase letters (majuscules) with lowercase letters (miniscules)
Carolingian Renaissance
cultural renaissance (education, architecture, bookmaking) in the early-Middle Ages during the era of the Frankish ruling dynasty of the Carolingians
carta
Latin term for papyrus sheet, later became “charter” referring to documents of all kinds
carton
a container made from a single or multiple layers of paper derived from groundwood pulp, chemical pulp or recycled paper with an area density of between 150 and 600 g/m²
cartouche
a decorative scrolling frame used in the baroque period in architecture, graphical art and book art
case in
procedure in bookbinding by hand in which the book body is attached to the cover by means of a sheath
catalogue
a register that serves as a general collection, a systematic inventory document or a form of accompanying documentation for an exhibition, range of products, etc.
Cataloguing in Publication (CIP)
advance notification service fur as yet unpublished publications, existing in Germany in the period from 1971 to 2002
catchword
the first word (or sometimes just a syllable) of the following page of a book appended at the foot of every page used to maintain the order and consistency of a work
Catholicon
Latin dictionary including a grammar of the Dominican John Balbi of Genoa
cave paintings
stone paintings located in caves or under rock peaks, often from the early-Palaeolithic era
censor
person who is charged by a church or governmental authority with controlling publications
censorship
political process controlling movement of information, either public or private, and suppressing it if necessary
censorship mark
in Germany, a label on publications released for dissemination by military censors during the First World War
censorship stamp
stamp on postal items that have been inspected by a state or military authority
census
index of all examples of a work, an author, a printer or a publisher that can be found in one library or collection
central catalogue
a catalogue that documents the collections of several libraries, in particular for interlibrary loans
chained book (liber catenatus)
a book secured in a library by means of an iron chain attached to a bookrest so as to prevent unauthorised removal or theft
chalcographic title page
an illustrated copper title page created using chalcography
chancellor
the head or director of a chancery or (high-level) authority
character
individual element of a writing system
character spacing
spacing between individual characters
character system
the overall context to which an individual character belongs (e.g. alphabet or Morse code)
character width
is constant in all non-proportional fonts; variable in proportional fonts
characteristica universalis
universal language, searched for by G. W. Leibniz, with which all things and there interrelationships could be depicted with signs
charge coupled device (CCD)
component of scanners and digital cameras that can convert light into electrical current or digital signals
charges
set prices or fees, sometimes of an official, governmental nature
charteque
derived from the Latin “carta” (paper, or “charter”) the term denotes an old book whose cover was made of sheets of parchment
chartulary
an archival source containing transcripts of certificates/deeds
chest
chest for keeping valuable documents and other items in, e.g. those kept by a guild
chiaroscuro
technique, from the Italian for light-dark, used in the graphic arts and painting aimed at increasing the three-dimensionality and expression
children’s book
literature that seeks to appeal to children through the use of illustrations and other appropriate elements
Chinese characters
characters created for the fixing of the Chinese language, which also attained great significance in the Korean and Japanese languages
chinoiserie
motifs, patterns and designs for interior design and porcelain, etc., developed following Chinese examples
chivalric romance
a style of prose and verse narrative popular among members of the medieval court
chrestomathy
collection of predominantly literary works for educational use
chromo paper
paper, usually of wood pulp, painted on one side, of particular relevance for lithographic printing
chromolithography
also known as colour lithography; procedure for reproducing original graphics or reproductions in colour, using one stone for each colour
chronicle
an account of history listing historical events in chronological order
chronogram
characters embedded in a motto or inscription that simultaneously form Roman numerals thus also indicating the year
chronology
the science of time, dating the years and calendar systems
chrysography
medieval handwriting whose letters and painted objects are partially or completely made with gold tincture
Church Fathers
authors of the 8th century who made a considerable contribution to the teachings and identity of Christianity
Cicero
in typographic measuring systems, the scale for a type size of 12 points
cimelia
rare and valuable ancient manuscripts and prints that are very important in the collection or library
cipher
encoded characters in a secret text
civilian
a person belonging to a society who is not a member of its military
civilisation
a way of life developed and ordered according to bourgeois perceptions
class
a legally, socially and largely culturally enclosed group linked through commonalities relating to ancestry, profession, property or education
Classicism
an era of art history lasting from approximately 1770 to 1840
classified catalogue
a library subject catalogue with documents systematically grouped together according to their subject relevance
clay tablet
clay writing slab primarily used to display cuneiform script that was stamped into the surface
clearing
book traders used to clear their payments at the book fairs in Frankfurt and Leipzig, then The Traders' Payment Clearing Company arose
clergy
the collective body of ordained members within a holy order
client
computer program that calls up services from another computer program via a server
client-server system
network architecture for digital systems connecting several workstations to centrally provided services
CMYK colour space
standardized colour space defined by the four print colours of cyan, magenta, yellow and black (key colour)
coat of arms
a shield-shaped, coloured and well-defined badge of a person, house, institution or community
coated paper
through the application of a compound comprising pigment and binding agent, paper is given a sealed surface suitable for printmaking
coating
application of an adhesive layer (glossy or non-glossy) to one or both sides of a page used in making image printing or art print paper
code
agreed system for how to convert individual orders and messages for a corresponding target system
code civil (Code Napoléon)
French civil law that was brought into force in 1804 and gained influence in the states of the Confederation of the Rhine
codex
originally a term for a book form consisting of stitched folio sheets
Codex Argenteus (Silver Book)
famous Gothic manuscript in the Uppsala University Library, the Bishop Wulfila’s translation of the gospels
Codex Aureus (Gold Book)
illuminated Gospel books from Echternach and Regensburg, today located in Nuremburg and Munich
codex book form
particular book form, as opposed to scrolls and folded books
codicology
an auxiliary branch of historical study that deals with the handwriting of the ancient world and the Middle Ages
coffee-table book
book made to make an impression on a coffee table, often highly priced
coin
flat and circular metal disc, usually cast and struck used as a method of payment
collected edition
a work compiled by an editor and released by a publishing house that collects the opinion of several authors on one topic
collection
term used by many publishers for a series of published works
collector's edition
special edition for collectors and bibliophiles
college
an organisation of students
collotype
photomechanical method for the planographic printing of halftones without a grid
colony
settlement which can also be a foreign, dependent territory of a state
colophon
a text at the end of a book that provides details on the time, place and publisher in addition to other information of relevance to the publication
colophon (printer's mark)
registered trademark from the older printer characters
colour depth
unit of measurement for the volume of colour nuances that a digital output device can depict
colour lithography
process also known as chromolithography which renders original graphics or reproductions by printing each base colour on a different stone
colour management system
computer program predominantly used at the printing stage to balance the colour spaces of input and output devices
colour model
classification system for the description of colours, e.g. the RGB colour space for monitors or the CMYK colour space used in colour printing
colour printing
printing with multiple colours that are either laid down next to each other of printed on top of each other with the aim of producing an optical mixing effect
colour separation
computer-aided separating out of the proportions of the base colours in colour printing
colour separation
in colour printing, the proportions of the base colours cyan, magenta, yellow and yellow or a chromatic colour
colour separation
in colour printing, the proportions of the base colours cyan, magenta, yellow and yellow or a chromatic colour
coloured edges
the trimmed upper edge, or more edges, of the book body are decorated with the application of colour
coloured paper
paper that is subsequently refined mechanically or manually by tinting, painting or other techniques and serves as material for book covers
coloured woodblock
multi-coloured woodblock, printed either from multiple plates or differently inked parts of a single plate
colportage (book peddling)
the distribution of books via door-to-door sales by carriers or “colporteurs”
colportage book trade (book peddling)
the sale of literature by travelling salespeople
colporteur (book peddler)
a person selling books door-to-door
column title
a title in the heading line of every page of a book that quickly reminds the reader about the theme or content of the work at hand
comic (comic strip)
picture story consisting of individual pictures compiled together
communication
interaction with others through information exchange
communications infrastructure
a component of the broader term “information structure” (telephone, data and radio networks, etc.)
compact disc (CD)
optical storage medium with different formats for audio and data storage
compact disc-read only memory (CD-ROM)
optical storage medium with special storage format for data
compact disc-recordable (CD-R)
optical storage medium that may be written on once (in stages if need be)
compact disc-rewriteable (CD-RW)
optical storage medium that may be written on repeatedly after a delete procedure (in stages if need be)
compendium
a short reference guide or text book that provides a brief summary of a particular subject
compilation
an often superficial and indiscriminate roundup of musical or literary works
composing stick
a device with adjustable width used by the typesetter for assembling the types of an individual line in the correct sequence
composite manuscript
a number of manuscripts compiled in one volume
computer mouse
standard input device for computers with graphical user interfaces
computer to film
computer-aided film mounting at the pre-press stage
computer to plate
computer-aided direct (without film) exposure of the plate in the platesetter
computer to press
computer-aided direct (without film) exposure of the plate in the printing press
computer typesetting
computer-aided typesetting assisted by appropriate software (desktop publishing)
computus
medieval computation of the calendar and the date of Easter
concordance
a primarily alphabetically sorted word and terminology index of a work with page references
confiscation
seizure or disappropriation of goods or property e.g. by the state
Constructivism
Abstract art based on geometric and technical design principles, mostly with large colour surfaces and basic geometric forms
contemplation
thoughtful or long consideration e.g. of the aesthetics of an art work
contemporary history
a period from which eye witnesses are still alive, as well as the academic study of this period
content producer
author of media content such as writers or editors
content provider
publisher of media content
Continental System
an economic blockade imposed by Napoleon against Great Britain between 1806 and 1814
continuous text
in typesetting, text running without breaks such as paragraphs or sub-headings, etc.
convent
a community of nuns, or the building used by that community
copper-etching title page
engravings on copper plates decorating the title page of a book
copperplate engraving (chalcography)
a graphic printing process which involves engraving an image in a copper plate using an etching needle
copy
a duplicate that is faithful to the original; a transcript; generally: the result of reproducing an original
copy (book publishing)
text of a book, as written by the author himself, which is then subsequently checked by a copy editor
copyright
protection granting the creator of a work exclusive rights to its use and distribution, signified with the symbol ©
copyright law
law relating to the protection of intellectual property governing questions of publication and use, and the transfer of rights on death
copyright levy
standard, legally prescribed surcharge on the price of devices with which copies can be made
copyright of titles
titles of works of literature, publications or audio/visual media are subject to copyright protection which can be applied for in advance of their release
correction mark
a standardised symbol designating errors in a work and indicated in the right margin of the page
coucher
a papermaker who, “couches” a new sheet of paper (the process of removing it from a mould) or presses the fresh sheet on felts
council
an assembly of church delegates
courier
a person who carrying or delivering news or messages
court jester
a professional clown at a royal court who was afforded the right to speak his mind freely
court library
the library of a royal residence
cover
the outer casing enclosing the book body, consisting of a jacket and spine
cover (binding)
originally book covers and bindings, currently primarily media design regarding advertising and promotional effectiveness
cover decoration
adornment of the book cover by embossing, printing or goldwork, etc.
cover indenter
stamp used by bookbinders for the decoration of the cover
cover research
branch of book and library studies dealing with the recording, description and classification of book covers
cover types
these can be differentiated according to production methods (hand-bound, industrial binding), type of material and specific form of construction
critical apparatus
scholarly commentary on a work in the form of footnotes, addenda or a supplementary volume
cross media publishing
on the basis of media-neutral data, both physical and digital media are produced and published in different formats
cryptanalysis
a science devoted to the deciphering of encrypted information
cryptography
a science that deals with the encryption of information and issues of information security
cryptology
a science which deals with issues of encryption (cryptography) and decryption (cryptanalysis)
cult language
a sacred language used exclusively or predominantly in a religious context
culture
that which mankind produces through a creative impulse
cuneiform script
an ancient script form comprising vertical, horizontal and angled wedge-shaped stylus marks in clay
cursive
handwriting or running writing in which single letters are often joined; also replicated today in font form
custodian
a person entrusted with guarding a building or museum collection
customs duty
a transport tax that is levied on goods as an import, export or transit duty when crossing a border
customs union
a kind of federation of states that constitutes a common economic area
cut plate edition
books with blank pages on which drawings or engravings can be inserted
cyan
one of the four base colours of the CMYK colour space, together with magenta, yellow und schwarz (key colour)
cylinder rotary press
printing technique in which a rotary printing press uses roll paper
cylinder seal
cylindrical engraved stones that can be rolled on soft materials thus leaving an impression in the form of a relief
Cyrillic script
Church Slavonic script, the invention of which is sometimes falsely attributed to the Greek missionary Cyril who was an apostle for Slavic peoples
DAB (Digital Audio Broadcasting)
technical standard for digital radio
dabbing
the transfer, by putting through a printing press, of a printed image that has been soaked with solvent
daguerreotype
a photographic image on a silver-plated metal plate with the character a unique specimen
daily (newspaper)
a print medium which is aimed at the general public and published numerous times weekly
Dance of Death
artistic genre that has existed since the 14th century which acts as an allegory to show the power that death has over humanity
dandy roll
watermarking roll employed in Fourdrinier paper machines to alter the structure of the paper by inserting watermarks or ribbing
data storage
technologies and processes that provide for the depositing, long-term saving and delivery of data
dating
time indication on a document by naming the day month and year, or the attempt to arrange undated documents chronologically
De Stijl movement
a forum of Dutch artists that was founded in 1917, whose functional art was based on geometric forms and colour clarity (red, blue, yellow)
decalcomania
transfer of pre-prepared imagery onto porcelain, stoneware, glass and other industrial products using transfer lithography
dedication
addressing or inscribing of a work to a person on a special dedication page, which is part of a publication’s front matter
deed
the permanent legal record of a specific action such as a marriage or the acquisition of land
deluxe edition
a better produced and more expensive special edition of a work specifically aimed at collectors
demagogue
a person who is able to move people through their oratory power; originally a positive designation, now used exclusively pejoratively
depths
in printing terminology, the darkest parts of an image template
devotionals
devotional literature such as the lives of the saints, the book of hours, manuals of devotion, etc.
diazo film
film material used in the production of micro forms such as microforms such as microfilm or microfiche
dictionary
alphabetically ordered reference book containing words in one or more languages
dictionary entry
basic form of a keyword found in a reference book
die
metal form which is used in the casting of each type for printing
die cutting
production of material work pieces by cutting a shape into a flat surface (e.g. paperboard, fabric or metal) using a die-cutting press
digital library
collection of digital documents with unified indexing and user interface
digital photography
creation of photographic images using electronic components (image sensor of a digital camera)
digital printing
computer-aided printing procedure that does not use a static plate but instead reproduces dynamically from a data file
digital television
broadcasting of television programmes in digital form
digital versatile disc (DVD)
digital data storage medium which can be written on both sides, with greatly enhanced storage capacity in comparison to compact discs
DIN
Deutsches Institut für Normung (German Institut for Standardisation), the national standardisation organisation, founded as the standards committee of German industry in 1917
diploma
official document, certificate of the award of academic honours
diplomatics
the study of documents which imparts knowledge of the rules, use and design of documents, certificates and diplomas
diplomatics
auxiliary historical science concerning the knowledge of the rules governing the use and interpretation of certificates and diplomas
diptych
tablet consisting of two wax tablets connected together with two hinges
direction of rotation
direction of the paper path in the machine, determined by the paper fibres prior to processing
discount
reduction in a sales price
display typefaces
typefaces that are particularly suitable for emphasising text
divination book
a book in the form of an oracle
DNB
Deutsche Nationalbibliothek (German National Library), legal deposit library and bibliographical centre of the Federal Republic of Germany
document
clearly defined and identifiable unit of date with text or pictorial content, in the case of digital documents may also contain audio or moving-image content
documentation
compilation of documents (text, images, audio, film) or rendering information accessible through correspondent indexing
dots per inch (dpi)
unit of measurement for the resolution of raster images in output equipment (monitors, printers, platesetters)
download
the transfer of a data file from a server
draft
first or preliminary version of a text
drum scanner
expensive scanners used in the early years of digital image processing that produced high-quality scanning results
dry copying technique
a process for the reproduction of templates using electrical charges
drypoint
printmaking process which differs from engraving with its use of direct incision of an image into a metal plate by means of a hard-pointed needle
Dublin Core
simple and standardised conventions for the production of metadata for document descriptions
dummy book
a test book copy with unprinted (“blind”) pages, but complete with binding
dumping
When typesetting manually using metal type, putting the characters back into their letter cases or, in hot-metal typesetting, melting them down
duodecimo format
print format comprising 12 leaves or 24 pages per sheet
dust jacket
loose cover intended to protect a book and its cover which may also display information or advertising content
DVB-T (digital terrestrial television)
terrestrially broadcast digital TV to be received by antenna
e-book
the term for electronic books is used for both digital versions of book content
e-book reader
a device on which an e-book is read
eagle lectern
pulpit in churches of the late Middle Ages in the form of an eagle (symbol of John the Evangelist) with wings spread
EAN barcode
printed product code by which goods (including books) are furnished with their European Article Number
earth colours
very lightfast natural mineral pigments such as ochre and sanguine, whose hue can be altered by burning
Eastern World
the part of the world that, from a European perspective, lies in the direction of the rising sun; a term used to designate the Near and Far East
edge decoration
decoration of the various edges of the text block using gilding, punching, graining, or dyeing
edges
the three sides of a book made open by cutting the text block
edict
officially announced decree from governmental powers, mostly papal or monarchical
Edict of Worms
imperial decree of 1521 that imposed an imperial ban on Martin Luther and ordered his writings to be burned
edited volume
a book of selected works by different authors brought together in one binding
editio princeps
first edition, for Renaissance humanists a term denoting Greek and Latin classical works printed for the first time
edition
the (often scientifically founded) preparation of a work’s publication or the publication itself
editor
employees in the publishing industry who are responsible for the screening, selecting and editing of manuscripts
editorial office
department in publishing and translation agencies that deals with thematic and stylistic improvements of texts
Egyptian
antique typeface with nearly regular stroke width and serifs
Egyptian Book of the Dead
Ancient Egyptian collection of talismanic phrases, incantations, prayers and liturgical instructions for human life after death
Egyptology
the science of the Egyptian language, forms of script, history, art and culture in antiquity
electronic mail (email)
a message transmitted electronically in computer networks
electronic paper
display technology for digital media that functions passively, and thus reflects available light and can be written on repeatedly
electronic publishing
publication of electronic media in digital form whose consumption requires computer technology
electrostatic printing
reproduction process used in photocopy machines and laser printers
Elephant Hide
registered proprietary name of paper grade that has been made scratch- and wear-resistant through impregnation and is often used for book covers
eloquence
relating to the fluency and persuasiveness in spoken communication
emblem
compositional unit comprising a motto, symbolic imagery and explanatory inscription
emblem book
collection of emblems often compiled according to theme in book form
embossing
method of printing under pressure, where characters, structures or patterns are impressed in a surface
embossing press
machine or equipment used for embossing
emigration
voluntary or forced migration away from one’s home country due to social, religious, political or racist motives and forces
emphasis
in typesetting the highlighting of portions of text, e.g. with special type styles (bold, italics, etc.)
Empire style
style epoch of the first three decades of the 19th century, the last phase of Neoclassicism
Encapsulated PostScript (EPS)
prepared file ready for publishing with contents that may be transferred into a publication but cannot be revised any further
encoding
the swapping of the letters of a message with a secret script or other procedures to render it inaccessible to general readers
encoding machine
a machine, mostly of electromechanical construction, for the purposes of secret communications
encyclical
circular letter of the church
encyclopaedia
reference work for a wide readership, mostly offering concise entries in alphabetical order
encyclopaedists
designation for the staff of the Encyclopédie published by Denis Diderot and Jean le Rond d’Alembert between 1751 and 1772
endnote
an annotation, comparable to footnotes, standing at the end of a chapter or the whole work
endpaper
papers which can be used as attachments in a book and have either a neutral character or are specially designed
engraving
a collective term for a range of different artistic and illustrative printmaking techniques
engraving
the process of cutting ornamental designs or lettering into metal, stone or glass using a solid engraving tool
Enlightenment, the
intellectual movement, based strongly on reason, late 17th and the 18th century
entry word
a word that is taken from the title of a work and employed in accordance with a set of rules so as to catalogue a bibliographic entry
ephemera
small printed objects that have a short lifespan intended for a specific moment, but which are often coveted by collectors specialised in them
epigones
the (sometimes weak) followers of significant or famous predecessors
epigram
writing or inscription placed on buildings, graves monuments, also the corresponding short literary form
epigraphy
study of inscriptions, e.g. engravings on stone and metal, carving on ivory, etc.
Èpinal prints
single printed sheet displaying one or more picture, often hand-coloured
epitaph
a short text honouring a dead person, strictly speaking the inscription on their tombstone; may also be used figuratively
epitome
term for a short Latin historical document
epoch
a particular period of time in history or a person’s life
esparto
type of grass native to the lands surrounding the Mediterranean which is suitable for the production of paper and pulp
esparto pulp
pulp extracted from esparto or Alfa grass, which produces a voluminous paper suitable for thick printed output
Esperanto
constructed international auxiliary language dating from 1887
Etching
an intaglio method of printmaking used in graphic reproduction in art
etching
the production of printing plates for both relief and intaglio printing by means of acid or other chemicals
etymology
branch of linguistics dealing with the origin of words and their component parts
Evangelion, Evangeliary, Gospel Book, or Book of the Gospels
compilation of the gospels, or prescribed excerpts, to be read during mass or services
excerpt
portion taken out of a text
excommunication
exclusion from the church communion, anathema
exile
the state of being barred from one’s native country, generally for political reasons or as punishment
Extensible Markup Language (XML)
expandable markup language that can prepare hierarchically structured data in the form of text for digital exchange
exulant
Latin term for a proscribed person who is exiled on religious grounds
face printing
the first phase of printing which makes an imprint on the front-side of the page, followed by the reverse printing phase
facsimile
reproduction of a piece of graphic media (manuscript, artwork, print) that is as faithful as possible to the original, as a single sheet or bound
fair
festival of worship, carnival, display of wares
faked masthead
feigned, false or invented publication details for the concealment of a pirated edition, or for reasons of censorship
false place of printing
faked, false or invented print locations are in part a fashion that comes and goes, in part intended against censorship
family tree
genealogical compilation of a person’s descendants in the form of a tree, with branches, that grows upwards
fanfare style
France style of book covers with geometrically applied gilding, from the 16th and 17th centuries
fig-leaf edition
expurgated edition of a work from which religiously, politically or morally objectionable passages have been removed, also known as Bowdlerisation
figure
artistic or explanatory illustration in print or digital media
figure scale
the proportion of the figure in relation to the original
file transfer protocol (FTP)
a special network protocol permitting the transfer of data
files
written documents of courts and public authorities, classified temporally and by content
fillers
fillers include clay, calcium carbonate and barium sulphate and are used to give paper better qualities
film
photographic or cinematographic recording material, or the media form of images running together in sequence, forming a moving image
film lamination
finishing refinement of a piece of print matter through coating with glossy or matt plastic film, sometimes also embossed
finding aid
a document containing detailed information about a specific collection of papers or records within an archive
flatbed scanner
device for the digitalisation of images using an illumination and scanning unit
flesh side
the side of the skin on parchment which would have faced the body lying beneath it on the living animal
flexography
a type of relief printing process in which flexible printing plates are used in rotary printing
flush left (or right)
form of typesetting where lines of unequal length are aligned on one side (usually the left) in a straight line
flyer
one or two-sided printed sheet with news or advertising that are distributed or placed on display to be picked up
flyleaf
a sheet of paper that links the front and rear cover with the book block
flyleaf
together with the pastedown, forms the endpapers of a book
folding machine
paper-processing machine for the folding of sheets in accordance with the format being used
foldout
foldable page in a book, e.g. a map of a (technical) drawing
folio
a book in folio format, where the individual sheets are only folded once
font
in information technology, the electronic form of a typeface for the rendering of a set of characters on screen or for printing
font family
a group of related fonts with different widths, stroke depths and alignment of symbols
font style
typeface forms with particular sizes, weights and styles; the individual members of font families
footnote
annotation standing at the foot of a page, comparable to an endnote
forgery
a copy simulating a genuine original work brought deliberately into circulation with the intention of fraud
Forty-Eighters
member of the Frankfurt Assembly or an external proponent of liberal or democratic politics in the Revolution of 1848
fragment
piece broken away or separated from a whole
Fraktur
typeface from the group of blackletter typefaces
frater
male member of a monastic community, sometimes a term only used for a layman, whilst clergymen are named Father
French Republican Calendar
the calendar used in the French Revolution from 1792 and abolished by Napoleon again in 1806
front page
the first page of a newspaper or magazine
frontispiece
illustration on the side facing the title page of a book
full justification
when type is typographically set so that all the lines have the same length with the left and right-hand ends of the line flush with one another
full-tone
unscreened, uniform printing on a surface
functional illiteracy
the inability, despite certain reading and writing skills, to master writing to the degree fully required in daily life
galley proof
originally, in bookprinting, a long column print of a text for the purposes of review and correction, today replaced by a page proof
genealogical table
in genealogical terms, a section of the overall ancestry chart of person; a family chart
genealogy
auxiliary discipline that deals with individual persons, their ancestry and familial associations
German Rules for Alphabetic Cataloguing (RAK)
rules for libraries for the formal cataloguing of media
German Rules for the Subject Catalogue (RSWK)
rules for libraries for card catalogues indexed according to subject headings
ghost writer
a behind-the-scenes author who is commissioned by a third party to compose literary works
gigabyte
unit of measurement in the field of digital technology equal to one billion bytes
gilding
the covering of metallic and non-metallic objects with gold leaf
gilt edge
the head edge or several edges of the book body covered with gold leaf for the purposes of decoration and protection
girdle book
late medieval form of bound book that eased the carrying on one’s own person of predominantly religious writings
glass gravure screen
the raster screen in a process camera that serves to split half-tone images into printable dots
glossary
a list containing explanations of terminology as relates to a particular subject field
golden ratio
proportions that have existed since classical antiquity, considered the pinnacle of harmonious arrangement and carrying great importance in the field of image composition and layout
gothic minuscule
a script originating in the manuscripts of the Middle Ages which replaced Carolingian minuscule
Gothic script
a set of letters either used in the time of the Gothic peoples or used to render the Gothic language
Göttingen Seven
seven professors from Göttingen who, in 1833, objected to a breach of the constitution by the House of Hannover and thus were removed from their positions
gouge
a heated brass tool used in blind tooling to decorate book covers
grammage
properly the paper density (a measure of the area density) of paper and cardboard in g/m², sometimes written as “gsm”
grand tour
trip of discovery undertaken by young nobleman of the early modern era
grant of arms
documents issued by rulers from the 14th century entitling the recipient to bear a coat of arms
graphic
a collective term referring to drawn works of art and their reproductions in print
graphics interchange format (GIF)
a digital graphical exchange format with good compressibility but minimal colour depth
