Royal Octavo

With dimensions of approximately 7.5" x 10" (190mm x 255mm), the Royal Octavo format has a surface area around 75 square inches or 484 square cm. Also known as Royal 8vo, this book size gets its name from eight leaves of paper folded into one signature during old bookbinding methods. Larger than regular Octavos but smaller than Quartos, Royal Octavos became popular in the 17th-19th centuries for more compact editions of literature and nonfiction. The 7.5" x 10" size allowed for portability while having ample text per page for comfortable reading. Especially common in the United Kingdom for smaller hardcover books, Royal Octavos strike a versatile balance of compactness and formatting. Originating from early modern printing practices, the Royal Octavo size can comfortably fit around 250-350 pages printed on both sides. While less ubiquitous today, Royal Octavo remains useful for portable books just slightly larger than mass market paperbacks. Its success stems from allowing readable text in a hand-held package intermediate between pocket paperbacks and bulkier books.