descriptive bibliography

n. The study of the physical characteristics of books and the process of bookmaking, especially with an eye to understanding how materials and production influence the text. A listing of works that indicates in precise details the name of the author, the exact title of the work, and publication details, and that emphasizes the material nature of the work, including the format, the pagination, typographical particulars, illustrations, and other characteristics, such as the kind of paper and binding.