The bastard-title, which is often wrongly called the half-title,
is a modern evolution in its present application. Originally, this
single-line title was the only title which existed, but as time went
on the demand of the public, on the one hand, for a decorated page at
the beginning of the book, together with the printer's desire, on the
other hand, to advertise himself, developed the bastard-title into the
dimensions of the title-page which we now know, containing the name
of the book, the name of the author, the publisher's device, and the
publisher's name and address. At the present time the bastard-title is
used more to add elegance to the appearance of the volume than for any
practical purpose, it being pleasanter for the eye to rest first upon
this page rather than at once upon the title-page, which extends over
the full dimensions of the type area.