A galley proof, also known as an advance copy, ARC (advance reader copy), uncorrected proof, or just galley or proof, is a crucial part of the publishing process. Galley proofs are typically printed or released in small quantities and are distributed to reviewers, booksellers, and other industry professionals to help build buzz and interest for upcoming releases or reprints of backlist titles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Galley proofs are books in the pre-publication stage that are sent out to reviewers and those who may have an interest in them. Publishers send them out before the final version of a book is printed and distributed. They are usually publishing-ready except for a final proofread and are not meant for sale or general release as they occasionally contain minor errors and placeholder elements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The name has a long history in the book world, dating all the way back to the 1600s. The term “galley” comes from the days of letterpress printing, where typesets were arranged in a long, narrow tray called a “galley”. \u201cProof\u201d on the other hand, refers to the process of verification for fidelity and accuracy. When galleys were still used for printing, an early limited run would be printed on a \u201cproof press\u201d for the purposes of verification and proofreading.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While technology has changed, we still use the same terminology. While each term for a galley proof has its own history and use case, these terms are now used mostly interchangeably.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Galley proofs have traditionally been unbound manuscript print runs, with no embellishment sent out to proofreaders for final verification. Now, however, \u201cgalley\u201d or \u201cproof\u201d has become more synonymous with what would traditionally be considered an \u201cuncorrected proof\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
These days, the most common galleys distributed are in ebook format, PDF, or paperback. Paperback proofs will have some design elements in place, like a hint at colour and cover design, the book\u2019s tagline, and any author blurbs the book may have already received. They are also very rarely sent out as unbound manuscripts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Physical copies are more expensive to produce, so ebook galleys are becoming more and more common. Sites like Edelweiss<\/a> and NetGalley<\/a> mean that readers can more easily request review copies of the books they\u2019re interested in, and they also give self-published authors a platform where they can reach potential readers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n