Book Jacket
From Modern Publishing 2025
Definition
The paper covering that is wrapped around a book, often a hardcover book, to protect the book underneath. [1]
History
In the late 19th century book binding was just becoming more popular as books were becominng more available. Publishers started to use hard covers instead of temporary ones. Books were still very expensive and precious so they started to use paper covers to protect the hard covers during travel. [2]
Facts
A book jacket is often used to decorate the book with art or designs and can draw readers in or set a tone for what the book will be about. They are typically laminated or coated with a protective layer. It can be matte or shiny. To make words pop sometimes publishers will make the choice to use spot gloss. Spot gloss can make a specific area shiny and draw attention to that feature. [3]
