Definition of the word title page

The term "title page" initially appeared in English during the 16th century. At that time, books were primarily printed in manuscript form, with each page being explicitly numbered by hand. The task of assigning page numbers became onerous for the printer, as the text could vary significantly from edition to edition. As a result, publishers began devising a way to streamline this process. In 1551, the first edition of the Book of Common Prayer was published in England by Archbishop Thomas Cranmer. The front page of this book featured the book's title, along with the name of the author, the publisher, and other important information. This feature made it easy for printers to reference and number the pages correctly as they moved further into the book. As printing technology progressed, book manufacturers expanded their use of this technique, and the term "title page" came into common usage during the Renaissance. Today, the term is a staple in modern publishing, signifying the initial page in a written work that presents descriptive and bibliographic information about the text that will follow.