Understanding Firth: A Useful Unit of Measurement in Printing and Bookmaking

Firth is a unit of length equal to 1/8 of an inch. It is used primarily in the measurement of type and other printed materials. The term "firth" comes from the Old English word "feorh," which means "a small quantity or amount."

For example, if a printer needs to measure the size of a piece of paper, they might use a ruler marked with firths instead of inches. This allows for more precise measurements, as there are 8 firths in an inch.

Firth is also used in the context of bookmaking, where it is used to describe the size of a book's pages. For example, a book might be described as having "firth-sized" pages if its pages are 1/8 inch smaller than standard size.

Overall, firth is a useful unit of measurement for precise measurements in printing and bookmaking, especially when working with small sizes or precise margins.