Glossary of Rare Book Terms

What is a rare book? What is signed versus inscribed? What is a first edition? What does 8vo stand for?
Find some of the common jargon booksellers and book collectors often use.

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Niger

A kind of morocco (goatskin) leather. Coming from West Africa, niger is a soft skin with an unemphatic, variable grain. It is locally tanned and dyed; colors often seen are crimson, orange to brick-red, green, or the natural buff. Slight variations of grain and color give niger its character and are seldom successfully achieved with imitations.

Nissen

Reference/Bibliography: Claus Nissen; Die zoologische Buchillustration. Ihre Bibliographie und Geschichte. Bd. I: Bibliographie; Bd. II: Geschichte; 1969-1978

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