By examining errors in page numbering, he is able to predict that half-sheet imposition was used even at this early time, especially because it would be more economical than using full-sheets (166). Bond then discusses the details of a page peculiarity in Churchyard’s Chippes by Thomas Marshe in 1575 (Bond, 163).
Then, he states that although half-sheets were predominantly used in smaller, 18th century books, there is fairly solid proof of their use in the 16th century as well. In William Bond’s article, “Imposition by Half-Sheets”, Bond begins by explaining what a half sheet is and how its use allowed inner and outer formes to be created at the same time. This makes logical sense, considering the half-sheet imposition process would be impossible without the use of half-sheets in printing and creating books. Half-sheets are typically referenced in scholarship surrounding the half-sheet imposition process. This change in visual appearance of books should be considered by bibliographers, because the appearance of the book in question had the potential to change its impression on its audience. With half-sheets, a book would be smaller, but also longer and require double the amount of quires in the book, making the book thicker, width-wise (777). The use of half-sheets also changed the visual appearance of books. Also, because time was saved by using half-sheets, the cost of labor went down, making half-sheets an attractive and cost-efficient option for printers (777). Because more books would be entering the market, it is safe to assume books printed in half-sheets were meant to have a mass audience. With half-sheets’ use expediting the printing process, mass production was able to take another step forward.
Half-sheets were used for printing during this time for books and other printed publications because the half-sheet imposition process that created the half-sheets was faster than simply printing on full sheets. So when handling a half-sheet comprised piece of media, considering whether the item has a commercial background may be useful. In addition, more commonly printed products like lottery bills, play bills, and most smaller advertisements were printed using half-sheets. Therefore, when examining an 18th century book, it could potentially be useful to consider the possibility of its creation through half-sheet imposition. First, many smaller books in the 18th century were comprised of half-sheets. Overall, the term “half-sheet” is crucial to understand because it is a tangible part of books and because it has bibliographical significance both historically and practically.
To create half-sheets, printers would employ half-sheet imposition, where ink would impose several pages on a full sheet of paper that which would later be cut in half and bound (Suarez and Woudhuysen, 777). Half-sheets are commonly found in small 18th century books, but are also found in earlier and later publications as well. Because the normal size of a sheet is subjective to each printer, the size of a half-sheet is therefore also subjective (Glaister, 213). At the most basic level, a half-sheet refers to a sheet of paper that is half the size of what is considered to be a normal sheet.