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Collection Printed Ephemera: Three Centuries of Broadsides and Other Printed Ephemera

Page Order and Folding Diagrams

Descriptive Overview

When viewing the digital images of the Printed Ephemera Collection online, a series of consecutive images is displayed. However, the pages of the original document may have been printed and folded in any of a wide variety of formats.

For instance, a typical broadside would be printed with one image on the front and perhaps another image on the back. But a four-page leaflet, like a newsletter, may be printed on a single sheet with two page images on the front and two on the back, then folded. The sequence, arrangement, and eventual folding of pages on a single sheet will vary according to the intent or whim of the publisher and printer.

In an effort to convey the format of this material, items other than single printed sheets have been categorized with a Page Order name. The names, appearing in the records and listed below, link to diagrams that depict the printing and folding formats.

Complete Diagram List

Leaflet

The white diagram depicts the page order of the item, unfolded.
The gray diagram depicts the item as it was meant to be folded.

Folder

The white diagram depicts the page order of the item, unfolded.
The gray diagram depicts the item as it was meant to be folded, with pages 1 and 2 on the inside.

Reverse Folder

The white diagram depicts the page order of the item, unfolded.
The gray diagram depicts the item as it was meant to be folded, with pages 3 and 4 on the inside.

Center Span

The white diagram depicts the page order of the item, unfolded.
The gray diagram depicts the item as it was meant to be folded.

Reverse Center Span

The white diagram depicts the page order of the item, unfolded.
The gray diagram depicts the item as it was meant to be folded.

Triptych Span

The white diagram depicts the page order of the item, unfolded.
The gray diagram depicts the item as it was meant to be folded.

Double Vertical Fold

The white diagram depicts the page order of the item, unfolded.
The gray diagram depicts the item as it was meant to be folded.

Tri-fold

The white diagram depicts the page order of the item, unfolded.
The gray diagram depicts the item as it was meant to be folded.

Reverse Tri-fold

The white diagram depicts the page order of the item, unfolded.
The gray diagram depicts the item as it was meant to be folded.

Multipage

The diagram depicts the format of the item.

Uncut Quarto

The white diagram depicts the page order of the item, unfolded.
The gray diagram depicts the item as it was meant to be folded.

Accordion

The white diagram depicts the page order of the item, unfolded.
The gray diagram depicts the item as it was meant to be folded.

Folded Scroll

The diagrams depict both the page order of the item and the way it was meant to be folded.