A quarto (4to) is a book or pamphlet produced as a foldable sheet of paper which is then cut into four leaves (pages). It is a medium size format often used for small books and pamphlets. A quarto has four pages per sheet of paper and is usually bound with staples or string.
The term “quarto” derives from the Latin quartus, meaning “fourth”. The term “folio” (meaning “leaf” in Latin) is sometimes used interchangeably with “quarto”, although folio generally refers to a larger format.
Quartos are often used for small books and pamphlets because they are inexpensive to produce. The main disadvantage of quartos is that they are not as durable as other book formats and can easily become damaged if not handled carefully.
When used in reference to books, the term “quarto” usually refers to the size of the book, rather than the printing format. Quarto books are typically around 9 to 12 inches (23 to 30 cm) tall, and can be either portrait or landscape in orientation.
The term quarto is used in the publishing industry to refer to the standard size of paperback books. A quarto book is typically about 9 inches by 12 inches (22.9 cm × 30.5 cm). The term is also used to refer to the size of hardcover books, which are typically about 10 inches by 13 inches (25.4 cm × 33.0 cm).
The term quarto can also be used to refer to the size of a sheet of paper, which is typically about 22.5 inches by 30.5 inches (57.2 cm × 77.5 cm). A quarto sheet of paper is large enough to make four leaves (or eight pages) when it is folded in half.
Quarto (4to) is a very important size in the book and publishing industry. It is a standard size for many books, and is also used for many important documents such as contracts and legal documents. Quarto is also used for many important manuscripts, such as the Gutenberg Bible.