What is a Folio Edition Book & Are They Worth Anything?

If you’re an avid reader or book collector, you may have come across the word ‘folio’; then you’ve either walked away confused or Googled the term and ended up on this page.

Folio books are a specific type of book that dates back hundreds of years, but there’s also an organisation called The Folio Society that print retrospective books of classic literature in the traditional folio format.

 

What is a Traditional Folio Book?

It’s an unusual word, and it comes from the Latin word folium, which means leaf. There are three meanings or definitions for folio in the book and printing world.

Format

Folio can refer to a printing format that was used before books were bound using modern techniques such as perfect binding or saddle stitching.

A folio is one or more full sheets of paper on which four pages of text are printed; two on either side. Each sheet is folded once to produce two leaves, so each leaf is one half of the paper’s original size.

There are other methods that incorporate more folds, such as quarto (two fold) and octavo (three fold). These pages would be cut open by the printer, or the book buyer would do it themselves with a knife.

 

Page Numbering

A folio is a leaf with two pages, and those pages are called recto (1st page) and verso (2nd page). However, it’s a little confusing, most of us would consider the first page we see as the page on the left, but folio books go by the first page you see, which is on the right.

So, a typical page abbreviation would be ‘f23r’, which means the first side of the 26th leaf in a book (r for recto), which would be the right hand side page.

Size

Folio books can also refer to the size of the sheet of paper it’s printed on, but due to the limited technology at the time of printing determining the size can often be futile.

There are various historical terms for folio books, such as:

• Double Elephant Folio (50 inches/127 cm)
• Atlas Folio (25 inches, ca 63 cm), Elephant Folio (23 inches, ca 58 cm), Royal Folio (20 inches, ca 51 cm), Medium Folio (18 inches, ca 46 cm), and (the most common) Crown Folio (15 inches, ca 38 cm).

If you think you’ve got a folio book, get your measuring tape out!

 

Why Are There So Many Definitions?

The reason for these different definitions is down to classification, for example, technology in the 1900s allowed publishers to produce many pages at a time, which makes it difficult to determine how many folds are in one page. Therefore, size or page numbering becomes more important.

 

What is a Folio Society Book?

The folio society was founded in If you try any of the above methods and are still unsure, look for the FS logo. Every Folio Society publication features a unique ‘FS’ logo on its spine.

You’ll also find publisher details inside any book which details that it’s a Folio Society publication. This includes the date it was published and information about any additional editing or introductory work contained within the publication.

Many people collect folio society books, so if you’re clearing out someone’s possessions and they have a lot of books, it’s worth checking whether they’re folio society books.

Our valuation team at WeBuyBooks frequently encounters Folio Society editions from estate collections. A quick way to check value is by searching the ISBN through our app, browsing our catalogue for Folio books without an ISBN or just email us a photo of the spine and cover.

Why Collectors Love Folio Society Editions

The Folio Society is renowned not just for its preservation of literary classics, but for the craftsmanship and artistry that go into each edition. These books are often:

• Bound in cloth, leather or buckram
• Printed on high-quality acid-free paper
• Include commissioned artwork, slipcases, and sometimes even forewords by notable scholars or authors

This makes them especially appealing to collectors and avid readers alike. Even when a title is widely available in paperback or digital formats, a Folio Society version is seen as a keepsake or heirloom edition.

 

Are Folio Society Books Worth Anything?

Your Folio Society books will be worth something, but they aren’t traditionally bought as investments, collectors and readers have an affinity for the books. The easiest way to find out is by visiting our catalogue and browsing through our selection of folio books.

 

Best Folio Society Books - The Top 10 Most Popular or Valuable

Collectors often seek specific editions that are rare, beautifully illustrated, or part of a limited print run. Here are some of the most sought-after Folio Society books:

While book values fluctuate due to supply and demand, some folio books can fetch up to £1000!

 

How to Identify Valuable Folio Society Editions

When evaluating the potential value of a Folio Society book, keep the following in mind:

• First Editions or early printings generally fetch higher prices
• Limited Editions are more collectible than regular editions
• Books with unique illustrations or signed introductions are more desirable
• Original slipcases, dust jackets, and condition (no markings, creases) significantly increase value

 

Do Folio Society Books Increase in Value?

Folio books don’t tend to appreciate value because there are usually a lot of them in circulation due to excellent preservation techniques, plus, the initial sale price is high which makes it more difficult for the value to increase. If you have a first edition or limited edition, it may hold more value than a standard copy.

 

Got Folio Society Books? Here's How to Check Their Value

Whether you're decluttering, settling an estate, or just curious about that beautifully bound book on your shelf, Folio Society editions are often worth more than expected, especially older or limited printings.

At WeBuyBooks, we’ve spent over two decades valuing collectable books, and we handle thousands of Folio Society editions every year.

What We Offer:

• Free online valuations — no ISBN required
• Specialist knowledge in collectable and illustrated books
• Prepaid postage, no fees or obligations
• Fast payment — usually the next working day

Trust matters: Folio Society sellers consistently rate us 4.7 stars on Trustpilot. We're proud to have paid out over £20 million to book sellers across the UK.

You can check your edition manually in our Folio Society catalogue, or visit our main sell Folio books page to get started.

Tip: Even if your edition isn’t listed, send us a photo — some rare or early copies aren’t catalogued digitally.