COLOPHON, in Bibliography, the concluding lines of early printed works, which, previous to the introduction of title-pages, usually contained the title, the date, the name of the author and of the printer, &c. The term is said to be derived from the Greek proverb τὸν Καλοφώναν ἐπὶ θῆκεν (γ. d., he gave the finishing stroke), alluding to the Colophonian cavalry, which was so excellent, according to Strabo, that victory was assured to that side on which it fought.