Here one can find the names of previous owners, such as signatures, bookplates, or library stamps; dealer’s records; commentaries or dedications; beautiful frontispieces; and other material that both supplements the contents of the book and provides scintillating glimpses into the life of the book as a historical object, as well as the lives and thoughts of the people connected with it.

A frontispiece is a decorative, large-scale illustration found at the start of a book or atlas, opposing the title page. Typically, frontispieces are artworks spanning the whole page. The term ‘frontispiece’ comes from the Latin 'frontispicium' (‘frontispice’ in French). ‘Frons’ means forehead and 'specere' translates as ‘to look at’. Thus, a frontispiece presents the face of the book. It captures the reader’s attention and sets the tone as their first interaction with the contents of an atlas, codex, chronicle, or other work.

The tradition of the frontispiece can be traced back to the 15th century. By the 17th century, they were a commonplace feature of atlases and books.

Front matters

It is always tempting to skip past the first pages of an atlas or rare book, to get to the gorgeous illustrations or the fascinating text. But the front of old books matters!