<P> These various production methods are referred to as the format of the book . These terms are often abbreviated , using 4to for quarto , 8vo for octavo , and so on . The octavo format , with eight leaves per gathering , has half the page size of the quarto format before trimming . Smaller formats include the duodecimo ( or twelvemo ) , with twelve leaves per sheet and pages one - third the size of the quarto format , and the sextodecimo ( or sixteenmo ) , with sixteen leaves per sheet , half the size of the octavo format and one quarter the size of the quarto . The vast majority of books were printed in the folio , quarto , octavo or duodecimo formats . </P>
<P> These various production methods are referred to as the format of the book . These terms are often abbreviated , using 4to for quarto , 8vo for octavo , and so on . The octavo format , with eight leaves per gathering , has half the page size of the quarto format before trimming . Smaller formats include the duodecimo ( or twelvemo ) , with twelve leaves per sheet and pages one - third the size of the quarto format , and the sextodecimo ( or sixteenmo ) , with sixteen leaves per sheet , half the size of the octavo format and one quarter the size of the quarto . The vast majority of books were printed in the folio , quarto , octavo or duodecimo formats . </P>
book size resulting from folded a sheets to make eight leaves
book size resulting from folded a sheets to make eight leaves
half the page size of the quarto format
half the page size of the quarto format