Kansilehdet

Kansilehdet is a Finnish term used in publishing and library science to refer to the outer sheets of a printed work that form its cover and adjacent leaves. The concept covers the parts that protect the inner text block and carry bibliographic information or decorative elements, including the front and back cover and sometimes the inner endpapers.

In practice, kansilehdet vary with binding style. For hardcover editions they align with the outer boards and any printed cover design, while in paperback editions they describe the outer wrapper or the first and last leaves that display the cover artwork and title. The exact composition can differ between publishers and editions, especially when reprints introduce redesigned covers.

In bibliographic descriptions and archival catalogs, kansilehdet are noted to distinguish the exterior material from the interior pages. They may be referenced when describing edition variants, cover art, or special bindings, and can influence cataloging decisions and physical condition assessments.

See also: title page, front matter, binding, cover design, endpapers. In Finnish publishing practice, kansilehdet remain a useful term for describing the physical exterior of a book and its relationship to the interior text.