A tipped-in page (also known as a tip-in or tipped page) is a single leaf (a sheet of paper forming two pages, one on each side) that is physically attached to an adjacent page within a book or other bound volume, typically along its inner margin or gutter. Unlike pages that are part of a printed signature (a large sheet of paper folded multiple times to create a section of the book), a tipped-in page is added individually after the main sections of the book have been printed and, sometimes, even after they have been bound.
The process of "tipping-in" involves applying a thin, narrow strip of adhesive (often a specialized tipping glue) to one edge of the single page, usually the edge that will lie closest to the spine (the gutter edge). This glued edge is then carefully positioned and pressed against the corresponding margin of an existing page in the book.
Tipped-in pages are commonly used for several purposes:
- Adding supplementary content: This can include errata slips, dedication pages, publisher's notes, or last-minute updates that were not available during the initial printing of the main text block.
- Integrating special materials: Pages made from different paper stocks, photographic plates (especially those printed on glossy paper), maps, diagrams, illustrations (particularly those requiring specific printing processes or colors), transparent vellum inserts, or gatefolds (pages that unfold to a larger size) are often tipped-in because they cannot be easily incorporated into the standard printing and folding of signatures.
- Correction or replacement: In rare cases, if a single page within a book's print run contains a significant error, it might be more cost-effective to print a corrected page and tip it in over the erroneous one, rather than reprinting an entire signature or discarding the whole volume.
- Enhancing aesthetics or value: In fine press books, limited editions, or art books, tipping-in might be used to showcase a particular illustration, a signature, or a unique element that adds to the book's artistic or collectible value.
A characteristic of a tipped-in page is that it often feels slightly different from the surrounding pages, either due to its material, its thickness, or the slight stiffness imparted by the adhesive along its attached edge. If not properly secured, tipped-in pages can sometimes become detached over time, especially in older or heavily used books.