Facsimile
Copy or reproduction of an original work
Summary
A facsimile is a copy or reproduction of an old book, manuscript, map, art print, or other item of historical value that is as true to the original source as possible. It differs from other forms of reproduction by attempting to replicate the source quite accurately in scale, color, condition, and other material qualities. For books and manuscripts, this also entails a complete copy of all pages; hence, an incomplete copy is a "partial facsimile". Facsimiles are sometimes used by scholars to research a source that they do not have access to otherwise, and by museums and archives for media preservation and conservation. Many are sold commercially, often accompanied by a volume of commentary.
Originally created by Pinkunicorn
2/26/2002, 12:17:47 AM
Modified
5/17/2026, 3:56:12 AM
Recent revisions
Repetition excised.
[[WP:SDLENGTH]]
/* See also */ define
[[Wikipedia:OABOT|Open access bot]]: url-access updated in citation with #oabot.
split para: fax is really a separate topic
Removed tagged sentence from lead. The cost of a facsimile can obviously vary tremendously depending on what is being reproduced.
Reverting edit(s) by [[Special:Contributions/102.91.4.228|102.91.4.228]] ([[User_talk:102.91.4.228|talk]]) to rev. 1218543198 by Chariulf: Unexplained content removal ([[w:en:WP:UV|UV 0.1.5]])
/* Facsimiles in the age of mechanical reproduction */ EDITOR = Dylian Kizzy
Added a section on digital facsimiles.
/* Facsimiles in the age of mechanical reproduction */
v2.05b - [[User:WikiCleanerBot#T12|Bot T12 CW#548]] - Fix errors for [[WP:WCW|CW project]] (Punctuation in link)
[[MOS:FOREIGNITALIC]]
[[WP:LQ]]
Rescuing 1 sources and tagging 0 as dead.) #IABot (v2.0.8.6) ([[User:Whoop whoop pull up|Whoop whoop pull up]] - 9597
added [[Category:Copying]] using [[WP:HC|HotCat]]
Undid revision 1041364319 by [[Special:Contributions/2603:8000:BB01:AB4F:2951:5417:4F78:75A7|2603:8000:BB01:AB4F:2951:5417:4F78:75A7]] ([[User talk:2603:8000:BB01:AB4F:2951:5417:4F78:75A7|talk]]) rvv
Facsimile is not a real word.
{{lead extra info}} unnecessary, this article is so short that there's no reason for us duplicating the intro again
Undid revision 957611766 by [[Special:Contributions/190.102.7.169|190.102.7.169]] ([[User talk:190.102.7.169|talk]]) rv test
