Binding, cover, dust jacket, bookend - these elements are inextricably linked with the entire body of the book, represent part of its whole and, it would seem, it is unlawful to consider the principles of their design autonomously. However, in reality there is reason for this. The main one is the specific functions of the binding, cover, dust jacket and endpaper in the entire book design ensemble. No less important is the fact that the perception of these elements by the viewer-reader occurs on a slightly different basis than the perception of the internal design of the book. The very process of compositional thinking of the designer who creates the binding, cover, endpaper, dust jacket is also specific, including in cases where he also works on the interior design of the book. Finally, one cannot ignore the fact that the technology of printing the external elements of the book is also peculiar. The book was written on the basis of studying the experience of our artists, as well as publishing houses, accumulated over almost five decades. The study of this huge and interesting material made it possible to make a number of generalizations and conclusions of a theoretical nature, which the reader will find in different chapters of this publication.