The Sphere of the World

A horizontal view shows the closed book's fore-edge the edge of the page block opposite the spine. The block of pages appears as a solid, slightly textured tan or yellowish-brown surface, colored by age. The edges of the front and back covers are visible at the top and bottom of the page block, displaying the marbled paper pattern of ochre, forest green, and terracotta swirls. The book is resting on a dark, matte surface.

Early European Books, Copyright © 2011 ProQuest LLC. Images reproduced by courtesy of the National Central Library of Florence original: "Biblioteca Nazionale Centrale di Firenze". Magl. L.6.9

Technical Terms

Fore-edge: the edge of the pages in a book opposite the spine, where the book is opened.

Book Block: the text block or the gathered and bound leaves of a book, viewed as a distinct unit from the covers.

Binding: the structural materials (boards, leather, paper, and thread) used to hold the leaves of a book together and protect them.

Marbled Paper: a decorative paper produced by floating pigments on a liquid bath and transferring the resulting swirled patterns onto the surface of the paper.