Colophon (publishing)

A colophon (Greek κολοφών, summit ',' peak ') or a subscription (, postscript ', but compare the more common word meaning of subscription) is a para -text element of a book that is usually at the end of the manuscript or the printing mechanism and contains, among other information on the content, author, place, time, manufacturers, customers and production details of publication.

History

Colophons, which provides information about the client, the clerk gave or the origin of the original text, came forward to the handwritten scrolls of papyrus in ancient times before, later bound into books and manuscripts were probably common in valuable books. A custom built 180 AD colophon indicates a significant activity to improve the text. Poggio found in 1417 in a manuscript of Cicero's De lege agraria. It read:

" Statilius Maximus rursum emendavi ad Tironem et Laecanianum et Domi ( consortium ) et alios veteres III. Oratio eximia. "

"I, Statilius Maximus, have [ the text ] improved a second time after Tiro, Laetanianus, Dom [ Itius ] and 3 other elders. An excellent speech. "

From today's perspective colophons are valuable for dating (Example: Codex Cairensis ).

In particular, for the period of early printing, the term has become common in the explicit reference to the incipit said input formulations not only printed books but also of medieval manuscripts.

Use

In the printing industry the colophon usually contains information about fonts used and often the names of the designers; Paper, color, details of the book binding and methods of book creation can also be mentioned. For books with technical content and corresponding representations can list a colophon which software was used to make text and charts ready for printing. Detailed colophons are a unique characteristic of bibliophile editions, or limited editions.

The colophon can either like the imprint on the back of the title page or at the very end of the book appear. In ancient books no title yet leaves were used. The information on title, place and date of publication were therefore grouped together at the end of the book in the colophon. The first printed colophon in the Psalter of John Fust and Peter Schoeffer is handed down from the year 1457. The colophon is related to the Explicit ( contrary Incipit ) because he often stood at the end of a book. Throughout the book historical development it is largely given way to the imprint. Even today, however, colophons are printed in books, usually as one upon the quality of high-quality output.

Web pages can also have a colophon, which often contains information about (X ) HTML, CSS, usability and links to validate the page.