Types of Title Pages

Umbrella article: Titles

1 General characteristics of a title page

Title page
MPM A 2311 1# f. +2 recto
STCV 12860828

Not every page at the beginning of a work is a title page. Different elements are needed to consider a page a title page. Not all of those elements need to be present, but at a minimum a title page needs to contain a title. In some cases that title may be very vague. Other elements may be absent. In most cases, a title page will distinguish itself from the rest of the book by its layout and typography.


The title page may contain the following elements:

1. Title of the work
2. Author(s) of the work
3. Edition statement
4. Imprint
5. Printer's device
6. Ornaments and illustrations

These elements are treated in more detail later on in this section.

2 Pages with titles

Publications often contain different pages featuring a title or part of the title. We distinguish the following types:

2.1 Half title, French title, Schmutztitel or 'voortitel'

Often the first title page, which contains a highly condensed title. We mostly use the term 'half title' (also known as 'French title'). The German term 'Schmutztitel' refers to this page's function: since usually books in a bookshop weren't bound yet and the gatherings were stacked, the Schmutztitel at the top of the stack served as a protection against dust and dirt. The shortened title helped the bookseller to immediately see on which stack the requested book was. During the binding, this page was sometimes removed. A half title is never considered a title page.

Half title OB-Brugge 2755 f. *1 recto STCV 3121162

2.2 Frontispiece

A frontispiece is an illustration in the prelims that characterises the whole work and may, at most, contain a title or elements of the title. As soon as such an illustration also contains an author or information from the imprint, it is defined as an engraved title page. A frontispiece is never considered a title page. By definition, a frontispiece is an illustration, whereas a Schmutztitel or half title is never illustrated.

Frontispiece SESA-Mechelen A 11815 f. π1 recto STCV 6938956

2.3 Collective title page

This page contains a cover title or collective title. This type of title is often found in a multi-volume work or a work that, due to its extent, it published in multiple parts. Each part or volume usually has its own title page but at the front of the first volume, a collective title page is sometimes added later. Sometimes the title page of the first volume functions as a collective title page. In that case, this title page is sometimes of a more decorative layout/typography than the other title pages of the remaining volumes. We then consider this title page to be a collective title page.

Collective title page EHC F 215121 1# f. *1 recto STCV 12894198

2.4 Typographical title page

On a typographical title page, one or more elements are present in typography (moveable type). This does not mean there cannot be an engraving (illustration and/or engraved text), a woodcut or an ornament as well. As soon as typography is used on a title page, it is defined as a typographical title page.

Typographical title page EHC 541675 f. A1 recto STCV 12869899

2.5 Engraved title page

An engraved title page is a title page that is completely engraved, both the text and any potential illustrations. Not every engraved title page contains an illustration. Sometimes the engraved title page is cut out of the copy. Since engraved title pages are often printed separately, and therefore added to a gathering, it is not always clear whether there was or wasn't an engraved title page present.

Engraved title page UA RG 3072 F 6 f. A1 recto STCV 12903830