colophons

A colophon is a statement placed at the end of a book or manuscript that provides information about its production. Traditionally, colophons included details such as the scribe or printer's name, the place of copying or printing, the date, the edition or format, and sometimes the materials used. The word derives from the Greek kolophon, meaning "summit" or "finishing point," reflecting its role as a closing note.

In the medieval and early modern manuscript culture, colophons served as a record of authorship and workshop, often noting the calligrapher, illuminator, or patron, as well as the date and location of completion. They may also include remarks about the tools, inks, or papers used and occasionally a dedication.

With the advent of movable type, colophons continued to appear at the end of books, sometimes on the last leaf. They could list the printer, city, year of printing, and the edition; sometimes they noted the typeface or press marks. Colophons can be solitary remarks or long, formal passages, and they may conclude with a statement like "Explicit" or "Finis."

In contemporary publishing, many books omit a formal colophon, placing production credits on a copyright page or in a colophon section that is common in art, design, or specialty publications. In digital media, colophon is sometimes used to describe a page or section listing the technologies used, the publishers, and design credits, as well as the contributors.

Colophon should be distinguished from imprint, which is typically found on the title page and records the publisher, place of publication, and date. A colophon is more about the production details and provenance; a colophon may be used to verify authenticity in some contexts.