I'm often stumped on the terminology.  For instance, I know what the front and back covers are, of course, and the spine.  But how do you describe the top, side and bottom edges?  In other words, if the book were standing on edge like in a bookcase, and you looked down on it, what would that top edge be called?  Just the top edge?  Or is there an actual name for it?  I'm going to list a paperback with xxxxx's across the top edge, which somebody did to cover up where it says the name of a Library.  They probably bought it at a Library book sale or something, and I probably bought it at a garage sale.  I have so many books I can't remember where they all came from. - thanks -

My husband did some research on that subject because he sells book on eBay. He had a hard time finding that term but he said it is called the "top text block" of course the other edges are called the side text block and bottom text block. He also said he had the feeling a lot of people wouldn't be clear about what that was but they could check on line and find what it meant.

Marti, maybe this illustration will help you.

http://www.aboutbookbinding.com/anatomy/Parts-of-a-Book.html

Thank you, Rhonda and Anna.  I'm going to try to save this stuff to my hard drive so I can refer to it in the future.  But, like your husband said, Rhonda, nobody will probably know what the heck I'm talking about, lol.  I guess I'll just call them the top edge, bottom edge, and long edge.  But at least, I now know the correct terminology.

oooops sorry, I didn't have anything to add and accidentally clicked on submit!!!

That's OK, Melinda, cause I have a new question.  What is a bookcrossing?

I think It's in here:  PBS Glossary

Bookcrossing usually refers to bookcrossing.com .  It's a web site you can register a copy of a book, put a BCID number inside it, then hope a future reader comes and makes a journal entry telling you where the book went & maybe even what they thought of it.  Some members leave books out "in the wild" such as on benches or in break rooms for other folks to find.

At last a name for the page edges of a book.

I bookmarked that link. Thank you so much.

Thanks, Marilyn and Kayote.  Learning new things today.  Laura, I also bookmarked the link.