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A title page is a page in a book that displays the title, author, publisher, and publication details. The concept of a title page emerged from the colophon, a section where printers historically provided publication information.12

The title page's function evolved to include advertising for the publisher-printer and protecting the text within. Early title pages often omitted the author's name, continuing the tradition of anonymous manuscript authorship. The first full title page appeared in 1476, and by the end of the 15th century, it was a well-established feature of printed books.2

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