uncut, cut (of edges) vs unopened  ☜☞ ejemplar con los bordes cortados o sin cortar vs ejemplar intonso


Paper of this period was made in a paper mould, one sheet at a time, from pulp (macerated rags and water). As explained in gathering, a single sheet folded twice forms the usual quarto (4to) of a suelta, two sides of which would have a deckle edge. Normally, if bound, the binder trimmed the three outer margins of the folded and sewn sheets. In rebinding, there was always the danger of trimming the margins even more and losing some of the text (see: cropped.) It is not unusual to find sueltas that have never been bound, or not even sewn. If one is lucky enough to find sueltas that have only been folded and are intact, i.e., uncut, it is possible to unfold them, measure the original sheet-size, and learn about the format, imposition, pinholes, and watermarks.

Each gathering or quire of a quarto suelta is made up of a single sheet of paper folded twice. This results in two folds at the top: one connecting the leaf with pages 1 & 2 to the leaf with 3 & 4 and another connecting the leaf with pages 5 & 6 to the leaf with pages 7 & 8. As long as the folds are intact in the suelta, or for that matter in any book at all, it is said to be unopened. The book is impossible to read, but some collectors prize the pristine state of the original appearance over the content of the work itself.
  • On the left, an example of an uncut/untrimmed suelta, with the deckle edge present. On the right is a suelta that has had its edges cut/trimmed.

    Mercader aburrido

    [Private collection SzT]

uncut, cut (of edges) vs unopened 
uncut, cut (of edges) vs unopened 
uncut, cut (of edges) vs unopened