A
protective covering for a (usually
hardcover)
book, which also serves to:
- Allow an illustration to be used on the cover
- Provide an area on the back cover for a synopsis and pricing information / barcode details
- Provide space on the two thin strips which fold over the front and back covers of the book for information on the author and reviews of the book
Dust jackets nowadays tend to be pretty dull and
lifeless, often using half the cover space to display the
author's name in gold letters, but back in the
1950s and
1960s, some tremendous efforts were produced. A
mint condition dust jacket will add to a book's value quite considerably. Plus, they keep off
dust.