A presentation copy is a copy of a
book
A book is a structured presentation of recorded information, primarily verbal and graphical, through a medium. Originally physical, electronic books and audiobooks are now existent. Physical books are objects that contain printed material, ...
that has been presented, usually by the author or someone associated with the book's production, to another individual.
[Richard Ovenden]
"Presentation Copy"
''The Oxford Companion to the Book'' (Oxford University Press, 2010). The copy usually contains a presentation inscription identifying it as a presentation copy, such as an author's signature.
A simple Latin
Latin ( or ) is a classical language belonging to the Italic languages, Italic branch of the Indo-European languages. Latin was originally spoken by the Latins (Italic tribe), Latins in Latium (now known as Lazio), the lower Tiber area aroun ...
inscription is ''ex dono authoris'' ("from the author's gift").[Peter Beal (ed.), "Presentation copy, presentation inscription", in ''A Dictionary of English Manuscript Terminology, 1450–2000'' (Oxford University Press, 2008).] In manuscript
A manuscript (abbreviated MS for singular and MSS for plural) was, traditionally, any document written by hand or typewritten, as opposed to mechanically printed or reproduced in some indirect or automated way. More recently, the term has ...
s from the Middle Ages
In the history of Europe, the Middle Ages or medieval period lasted approximately from the 5th to the late 15th centuries, similarly to the post-classical period of global history. It began with the fall of the Western Roman Empire and ...
and the Renaissance
The Renaissance ( , ) is a Periodization, period of history and a European cultural movement covering the 15th and 16th centuries. It marked the transition from the Middle Ages to modernity and was characterized by an effort to revive and sur ...
, a presentation copy often contained a presentation miniature
A presentation miniature or dedication miniature is a miniature painting often found in illuminated manuscripts, in which the patron or donor is presented with a book, normally to be interpreted as the book containing the miniature itself.Bro ...
, a small painting depicting the author giving a copy to a recipient.[
There are three types of presentation copy. The first and most common is that given by the author or someone associated with the book's production, such as the printer or illustrator. The second includes special presentation copies prepared for prominent individuals, such as kings. A small number of presentation copies are associated neither with the book's producers nor famous individuals and are notable only for the usually fine details of binding or printing.][ Unqualified, the term "presentation copy" always suggests a copy gifted by the author.]
A dedication copy is a copy presented to the dedicatee.[Vincent Giroud]
"Dedication Copy"
''The Oxford Companion to the Book'' (Oxford University Press, 2010). They rank highly among presentation copies in collectors' estimations. An inscribed copy is not a presentation copy, but is signed by the author at the book owner's request. Presentation copies are generally more valuable and rarer than inscribed copies. Even presentation copies vary in value depending on their closeness to the author. The most valuable are those that have the author's dated autograph from the time of publication.[
]
Examples of presentation copies
''Plays, Never Before Printed'' (1668)
signed by Margaret Cavendish
Margaret Cavendish, Duchess of Newcastle-upon-Tyne (; 1623 er exact birth date is unknown– 16 December 1673) was an English philosopher, poet, scientist, fiction writer, and playwright. She was a prolific writer, publishing over 12 original ...
at the Folger Shakespeare Library
The Folger Shakespeare Library is an independent research library on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., United States. It has the world's largest collection of the printed works of William Shakespeare, and is a primary repository for rare materia ...
''An Account of the Abipones'' (1784)
presentation copy from John Carter Brown to John R. Bartlett at the John Hay Library, Brown University
Brown University is a Private university, private Ivy League research university in Providence, Rhode Island, United States. It is the List of colonial colleges, seventh-oldest institution of higher education in the US, founded in 1764 as the ' ...
''A Study in Scarlet'' (1887)
signed "With the Author's Compliments" by Arthur Conan Doyle
Sir Arthur Ignatius Conan Doyle (22 May 1859 – 7 July 1930) was a British writer and physician. He created the character Sherlock Holmes in 1887 for ''A Study in Scarlet'', the first of four novels and fifty-six short stories about Hol ...
at the Beinecke Library
The Beinecke Rare Book & Manuscript Library () is the rare book library and literary archive of the Yale University Library in New Haven, Connecticut. It is one of the largest buildings in the world dedicated to rare books and manuscripts and ...
, Yale University
Yale University is a Private university, private Ivy League research university in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701, Yale is the List of Colonial Colleges, third-oldest institution of higher education in the United Stat ...
''The Nursery "Alice"'' (1889)
dedicated by Lewis Carroll
Charles Lutwidge Dodgson (27 January 1832 – 14 January 1898), better known by his pen name Lewis Carroll, was an English author, poet, mathematician, photographer and reluctant Anglicanism, Anglican deacon. His most notable works are ''Alice ...
, sold by Sotheby's
Sotheby's ( ) is a British-founded multinational corporation with headquarters in New York City. It is one of the world's largest brokers of fine art, fine and decorative art, jewellery, and collectibles. It has 80 locations in 40 countries, an ...
in 2012 for £36,050
References
{{Books
Book publishing