“Bound Galleys” is a bit of an archaic term. Initially, in the days of traditional printing methods, bound galleys were just that: galleys [from the typesetter] cut down and bound simply. Their purpose was to get advanced pre-publication versions of the manuscript out to reviewers.

Although the term, bound galleys, is still used, the product is now much more sophisticated in its format. Usually, it is actually a bound paperback book and is often referred to as “Advanced Reader Copies” or “Uncorrected Page Proofs.”

These bound galleys often differ in size and look from the actual production book. The copy is usually uncorrected after typesetting and may lack illustrations. It will usually carry, on its cover, information that is useful to reviewers, wholesalers, and retailers.

Printed quantities will vary greatly depending on the market.