collation
1. That part of the description of a book, other
than its contents, as a physical object. Collation
gives the number of volumes, pages, columns,
leaves, illustrations, photographs, a maps, etc.,
as well as the size and format. 2. The process of
comparing minutely, page by page, line by line, or
even symbol by symbol, either visually, or by
means of electro, electromechanical, or chemical
means, in order to determine whether or not two
books are (more or less) identical copies or
variants. (69 , 156 )