Sextodecimo

With small dimensions of approximately 4.5" x 6.75" (110mm x 170mm), the Sextodecimo format has a compact surface area around 30 square inches or 194 square cm. Sometimes referred to as 16mo, the Sextodecimo gets its name from 16 leaves of paper being folded into a single signature during old bookbinding methods. Slightly larger than 32mo but smaller than Duodecimo sizes, Sextodecimos became popular for petite editions of poetry, plays, and novels. The tiny size allowed books to be incredibly portable and lightweight, while still having enough text per page. Especially common in the 18th and 19th centuries, Sextodecimos were ideal for slipping into a pocket for on-the-go reading. Originating from early book printing practices, the 4.5" x 6.75" size could comfortably fit around 150-200 pages printed on both sides. While less common today, Sextodecimo remains a useful format when minimal size and weight are needed, such as for small travel books. Its success stems from striking a useful balance of ultra-compact portability and legible formatting for short content.