Quarto

What Is Quarto? (Definition & Examples)

A quarto is a book or pamphlet made by folding a full sheet of paper twice, creating four leaves (or eight pages). In the UK literary and publishing world, the term is often used to describe a book’s size or format, especially in relation to early printed works.

Detailed Explanation

The quarto format dates back to the 16th and 17th centuries, when printing presses produced books in a variety of sizes depending on how the paper was folded. A quarto, larger than an octavo but smaller than a folio, was practical for many types of publications. Because of its manageable size and cost, quartos became the preferred format for plays, poetry, and smaller literary works.

One of the most famous uses of the quarto format is in Shakespeare’s early plays, many of which were first published as quartos. These editions were relatively affordable and accessible, making literature available to a broader audience. Today, the term still appears in bibliographic descriptions and in the cataloguing of rare and antique books.

For collectors, identifying whether a book is a quarto can add value and historical context. For schools and libraries, the history of the quarto is often discussed when teaching about early modern literature and the history of publishing. At Fox & Fable Booksellers, while our main focus is on affordable bulk orders and school packs, we also celebrate the heritage of bookmaking, which includes formats such as the quarto.

Examples of Quarto Works

  • Early quartos of Shakespeare’s plays, such as Romeo and Juliet (1597).

  • Ben Jonson’s plays, which were first issued in quarto format.

  • Poetry collections from the Elizabethan period, widely circulated as quartos.

  • Religious tracts and pamphlets printed in quarto during the English Reformation.

  • Later historical quartos, preserved in rare book collections across the UK.

Why Quarto Matters

Quartos matter because they highlight how books were produced, distributed, and consumed in earlier centuries. For students, learning about quartos provides insight into the development of English literature and the publishing industry. For collectors and libraries, quartos are treasured artefacts that preserve cultural history. And for book clubs or teachers, understanding terms like quarto connects modern readers with the traditions of book production that shaped the works we still enjoy today.

At Fox & Fable Booksellers, we recognise that every modern book has its roots in historical formats like the quarto, underscoring the importance of preserving and celebrating publishing heritage.

Relevant Tags

quarto definition
quarto book size
Shakespeare quartos
antique book formats
rare books UK
early modern publishing
literary history UK
folio vs quarto
book collecting terms
Fox and Fable glossary