Prisgenomslag

Prisgenomslag is a term used in publishing to describe the outer wrapper of a book or magazine, commonly known in English as a dust jacket. The prisgenomslag is a printed paper cover that encases the binding and often extends to the back and inside flaps. Its primary functions are protection, branding, and marketing: it displays the title, author, publisher, artwork, blurbs, and bibliographic information, and it frequently carries the suggested retail price on the back cover or inside flap, though the exact placement varies by market.

The design and production of prisgenomslag have a long history in book publishing. Dust jackets became common in the 19th and early 20th centuries, evolving from plain wrappers to full-color jackets with illustrations and copy. The jacket is part of the book’s visual identity and bibliographic record, and collectors often value jackets that are preserved.

In contemporary publishing, rising online sales have reduced the need to show price on the jacket, but prisgenomslag remains a recognizable and collectible element of printed editions. In some Scandinavian markets, prisgenomslag is used interchangeably with prisomslag, while in others the distinction is that prisgenomslag refers more specifically to the price-bearing wrapper.

See also: dust jacket, book design, bibliographic metadata.