F 

Facsimile

 A copy that looks like the original printing of a book but is not original. Facsimiles can be a source of frustration to collectors and booksellers but are acceptable for some institutional library collections. The term can also refer to one or more pages or illustrations that have been reproduced or copied to replace parts of the book that are missing. Also known as fake.

Faction

 a recently coined term used to describe works that straddle the line between fact and fiction.

Fading

 Refers to the condition of a book; describes the loss of color on the pages, dust jacket, or the cover of the book, which is usually caused by time or exposure to sunlight.

Fair

 See condition guide.

Fake

 See facsimile.

False Band

 A fake raised band that is attached directly to the spine of the book or the hollow of the cover. This decorative element is designed to make the book look sturdier than it actually is.

Festschrift

 A book containing a number of scholarly essays printed in honor of an individual.

Fiction

 a story invented by the author.

Final Draft

 The final proof after all other proofing and editing steps have been completed.

Fine

 See condition guide.

Fine Binding

 An elaborately designed book; for example, a book that is bound in leather with blind stamps and gilt edges.

First American Edition

 The first edition published in the U.S. of a book that was previously printed elsewhere.

First British Edition

 The first edition published in the United Kingdom of a book that was previously printed elsewhere. Also known as first U.K. edition.

First Edition

 The first appearance of a work in book form. Every printed book has a first edition but many never have later editions. When book collectors use the term, they're usually referring to the first printing and if there are different states or issues, the earliest of those. See also edition and high spot.

First Edition Thus

 An edition of a work that postdates the first edition and contains some modification to the work. The modification might be a new introduction, added illustrations, new supplement, new format, and/or a revision of the text. It can also refer to a first edition of the work by another publisher.

First Pass

 an early printed edition of the manuscript, which is reviewed for accuracy by the author and copy editor before publication.

First Serial Rights

 the right to excerpt a work in a periodical.

First U.K. Edition

 See first British edition.

First U.S. Edition

 See first American edition.

Flap Copy

 synopses of the story, blurbs, review quotes, or other information designed to help sell the book.

Flex-Cover

 A supple and tractable book cover. Flex covers are often used in conjunction with spiral bindings.

Fly Title

 See half-title.

Flyleaf

 The blank page or pages following the front free-endpaper. 

Focus Group

 A small cross section of people brought together to provide feedback on marketing ideas and products.

Font

 A particular typeface in a specific point size.

Font

 The typeset used in page design.

Fore-Edge

 The outside edge of the book where the book opens (opposite of the spine). Also known as front-edge. See book anatomy section for illustration.

Fore-Edge Painting

 A watercolor decoration, usually a scene or a geometric design, painted on the ends of the pages of the fore-edge of a book. Traditionally, the pages are painted so the decoration disappears when the book is closed and only appears again when the pages are fanned. However, the opposite can also be true of a fore-edge painting; the decoration can appear only when the book is closed. The tradition of fore-edge painting dates back to the 10th century and reached its peak of popularity in England in the latter half of the 17th century.  

Foreign Rights

 Rights granted or sold that allows books to be printed and sold in other countries.

Foreword

 Introductory remarks to the book written by someone other than the author.

Four Color Process

 Using the major colors magenta, cyan, yellow and black to produce pictures in a range of colors.

Foxed

 See foxing.

Foxing

 Refers to the condition of a book; intrinsic to paper, the patchy brownish-yellow spots that discolor plates and pages of a book. It is most likely caused by lack of ventilation and/or chemical reactions between the paper and microorganisms. The spots are generally found in 19th century books and can range from barely visible to ruinous. Also known as foxed.

Frayed

 Refers to the condition of a book; the unraveling of the threads or fibers of an edge of a book cover that is caused by excessive rubbing.

Freelance

 independent contractor hired to work on a book or article.

Freelance

 An independent contractor hired to work on a book, design or marketing plan.

Front Free-Endpaper

 The free or loose half of the pasted-down double leaf that is found at the very beginning of a book. The other half of the leaf, the pasted down portion, is attached to the board.

Front Matter

 Printed material found in the front of the book before the actual body copy starts. It includes title and copyright pages, dedication, foreword, preface, table of contents, etc.

Front Matter

 The series of pages that appear before the body of text.

Front-Edge

 See fore-edge.

Frontispiece

 An illustration placed before the first pages of a book that usually faces the title page. 

Frontispiece

 An illustration placed before the first pages of a book. Usually faces the title page.

Fulfillment House

 A company that handles the entire ordering process for books, such as storing, packing, mailing, maintaining records, and other business related operations for the author or publisher.