QUARTOS Meaning and
Definition
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Quartos refers to a term commonly used in the field of bookbinding and printing, specifically within the realm of historical books and manuscripts. A quarto is a book format that derives its name from the Latin word "quartus," meaning "fourth." It is characterized by its size and the way its pages are arranged within the binding.
A quarto-sized book is larger than an octavo but smaller than a folio. The name quartos arises from the fact that a single printed sheet is folded into four leaves, resulting in eight pages. These leaves are then sewn together and bound to create a book. The quarto format enjoyed popularity from the 16th to the 19th centuries, particularly for the publication of plays, poetry, and other literary works.
Quartos are identifiable by their characteristic page numbers and signatures. Each quarto leaf typically has a letter or number printed at the bottom, known as a signature, which helps in binding and organizing the pages correctly. Moreover, the page numbers in a quarto book usually occur at the bottom center of each leaf.
Today, quartos have significant value for scholars and collectors due to their historical importance and rarity. They are often sought after for research purposes, as they provide an authentic glimpse into the original publication of numerous literary masterpieces and cultural artifacts from specific eras.
Common Misspellings for QUARTOS
Etymology of QUARTOS
The term "Quartos" is rooted in Latin. It comes from the Latin word "quartus", which means "fourth". In the context of literature, "Quartos" refers to books that were printed and bound in a format that produced four leaves or eight pages when folded. These books were commonly used for publishing plays and other works during the late 16th and early 17th centuries.
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