What does colophon mean?
A colophon is a publisher's or printer's identifying mark, emblem, or inscription placed in a book, traditionally at the end rather than the beginning. It typically records facts about the work's physical production — the name of the printer or publisher, the place and date of printing, the typeface, the paper stock, or the size of the print run. In modern books this information often appears on the copyright page instead, but among collectors and fine presses the colophon remains a cherished feature, sometimes elaborately designed and signed by the artist. The word carries connotations of craftsmanship, care, and tradition, evoking the world of hand-set type and limited editions. Beyond books, designers occasionally use 'colophon' for the small credit block on a website describing how it was built. Though formal in register, the term is precise and widely respected wherever the making of books is taken seriously.
nounA publisher's or printer's identifying inscription or emblem, traditionally placed at the end of a book and giving details such as the date of publication, the typeface used, or the name of the printer.
- A publisher's emblem or inscription at the end of a book, giving details of its production.
"The book ends with an elegant colophon noting that it was set in Baskerville and printed on handmade paper."
"A brief colophon on the final page records that only five hundred copies were printed."
"Fine presses often treat the colophon as an art form, setting it apart with ornamentation."
Standard regular plural; used chiefly in discussions of bibliography and printing history.
"Early colophons sometimes included the printer's device alongside the date of publication."
The word 'colophon' comes from an ancient Greek city famous for its fine horses — and for giving us the phrase 'to add the finishing touch.'
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of colophon
'Colophon' derives from the Greek 'kolophōn', meaning 'finishing touch', which itself came to be associated with the ancient Ionian city of Colophon in Lydia. The English word was adopted in the seventeenth century, first in the general sense of a crowning detail and soon specifically as a term for the printer's inscription at the end of a book.
How colophon is actually used
Formal and largely confined to bibliographic contexts — book collecting, printing history, and fine-press publishing.