Of the making of a book: a few technical suggestions intended to serve as aids to authors

Of the making of a book by D. Appleton and Company is a practical publishing manual written in the early 20th century. It offers concise, technical guidance for authors on how to prepare manuscripts, navigate proofreading and production, manage illustrations, and support publicity—essentially, how a manuscript becomes a finished book.

The book begins with a brief apologia explaining why careful preparation matters in a largely mechanical art. It then lays out clear rules for manuscripts: legible, preferably typewritten copy on uniform pages with ample margins; consistent pagination; marked paragraphs, quotations, and foot-notes; sensible chaptering and titles; careful handling of foreign terms; and timely delivery of all front and back matter, including indexes. Next it explains the production flow—galley-proofs, revises, page-proofs, and foundry/plate-proofs—stressing that corrections should be made early to avoid costly overruns, that queries must be answered, and that proofs must be returned promptly. A dedicated section on illustrations distinguishes “engraver’s copy” from printer’s copy, explains half-tones, coated paper, and full-page insets, and instructs authors to paste proof images onto galleys exactly where they belong, with titles and figure numbers, and to credit borrowed images. The final chapter covers publicity: supplying a crisp description, a short biography, and an author portrait; offering targeted reviewer and organization lists; and collaborating with the publisher on format and marketing. An index and specimen proof markings reinforce its use as a hands-on reference.