Copper title

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In the book industry, a copper title is a full-page copper engraving that is bound as a title page or as a page in front of the actual title page of a book . Illustrations bound opposite the title page (page in front of the title page verso ) are called frontispiece . If there is a separate title page, usually only selected bibliographical information is noted on the copper title or frontispiece.

Appearance

The copper title contains both the written and graphic elements of the title page. Often copper titles are magnificently illustrated and show allegorical representations , coats of arms or the patron who made the printing of the work possible.

If copper titles themselves contain further individual copper engravings or if a title page contains copper engravings, these are called title coppers , smaller copper engravings are called title vignettes.

use

Copper titles came from a. in the 17th century in the Baroque era and also in the 18th century, when printing had already established itself and ostentatious and representative works were to be created in line with the spirit of the times. Often these works were sponsored by nobles or princes, who were shown in the copper title as thanks.

Since book blocks were mostly sold unbound, i.e. without a book cover , until the emergence of industrial book production , these illustrations on the top of the book block had an advertising role in sales.

literature

  • Alastair Fowler: The mind of the book. Pictorial title pages . Oxford University Press, Oxford 2017, ISBN 978-0-19-871766-9 (English).

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