Manuscript leaves, the book is called a folio (fig. 69) ; folded again
Books to form a “ section ” of four leaves—a quarto (4-to) ;

i i
! :

Г—1-

J [_

folio folding. Qwvto folding Octin’o fxMulg.

О о

ßlio (section). Quarto section. Octavo section-.

J

-fòlio

'opening.

Quarto
“opening ’

Fig. 69.

Octavo

t* >

opening.

or folded a third time to form a section of eight leaves
—an octavo (8V0).1 The book is made up of a

i The two, four, eight (or more) pages are printed on both
sides of the sheet before it is folded. Two or more sheets are
generally folded and put together to form a folio section.

68

number of sections sewn on to strings or tapes (see Manuscript
P-311)- Books

The penman will find that, besides saving time
and labour, it conduces to good work if he keep to
certain regular sizes for “large,” “medium,”and
“ small ” books; and, if the ordinary sheets of paper
which he uses will fold in convenient folio, quarto,
and octavo sizes, it is well that he make these his
standards for paper books.

Paper being made in sheets of various dimensions,
by folding a large or a small sheet, a “ large ” or
“ small ” folio—4to, 8vo—can be obtained.

It may be noted that the length and the width
of sheets of paper1 are very commonly about as 9 is
to 7. And therefore, when the sheet is folded for
folio or octavo, the proportions are roughly about
7: 4|, which are very good proportions for a page
of a book. It is obvious that a narrow (“upright ”)
book is easier to handle and more pleasant in appear¬
ance (when open) than an album or “oblong” shape
of book (b and c, fig. 70).

THE WIDTHS OF THE MARGINS

Margins are necessary in order to isolate and
frame a text: thus they contribute to its legibility
and beauty. It is better that they be wide rather
than narrow (see p. 72, & Note, p. 229); but
excessively wide margins are often neither covenient
nor pleasing (see p. 188).

The “ page ” or column of text should be in
such proportion to the page of the book, and be
placed on it in such a way as to leave adequate

1 Such as Foolscap (17' x 13}'), Crown (20' X 15'), Demy
(22І' X I7i'), Royal (25' X 20'), &c.

69