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A colophon is a section at the end of a book that includes information about the typeface and manufacturing techniques used. It can also discuss the designer, software, paper, and sources of renewable fibers. Colophons are useful for students of book design and are usually found on the page just inside the final piece. The term “colophon” should not be used to refer to a publisher’s mark on the front of the book. Some web designers include colophons on their websites as an invaluable learning tool.
Since 1774, the production notes section at the end of a book has been referred to as a colophon, although the practice of including information about a book in the form of production notes was much older. Ancient colophons included information about the scribe, author, year, and other relevant information, while a modern colophon usually contains information about the typeface and manufacturing techniques used. Not all publishers include colophons in their books, as much of the information traditionally contained in a colophon is included with the Library of Congress Data on the front of a book or on the back flap. When a colophon is included, it is often titled “a note on type”.
In addition to including information about the typefaces used in a book, including their history, a colophon can also discuss manufacturing techniques. The designer of the book is often credited, as is the software used for the layout. If the book is printed on letterpress paper, which is increasingly rare, this too will be noticed. In some cases, information is also provided on the paper used, especially if made with recycled materials, or sources of renewable fibers such as bamboo.
Students of the art of the book often consult colophons to learn more about the typefaces prevalent in modern book design and the techniques used to produce modern books. When looking for a colophon, readers should turn to the end of the book, as the colophon is usually found on the page just inside the final piece. The section of the colophon which traces the history of the type is often particularly interesting, especially in the case of typefaces devised several centuries ago.
The use of the term “colophon” to refer to a publisher’s mark or imprint is also common, although the term should not be used to refer to a publisher’s mark on the front of the book. Since it comes from a Greek word meaning “finishing touch” or “peak,” the use of “colophon” for information included on the front of a book would be incorrect.
Some members of the web design community have also embraced the spirit of the colophon and include information about the pages they design in colophon form. The colophon can be hidden in the source code or covered in an “about” page which also contains general information about the website. For many web designers just starting to learn their craft, this practice is an invaluable learning tool, allowing them to study the techniques used by seasoned professionals.
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