tête-bêche

American  

[tet-besh] / tɛtˈbɛʃ /

adjective

Philately.

1. of or relating to a pair of stamps that have been printed with one stamp inverted.

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tête-bêche British  

/ tɛtˈbɛʃ /

adjective

1. philately (of an unseparated pair of stamps) printed so that one is inverted in relation to the other

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Etymology

Origin of tête-bêche

1880–85; < French, equivalent to tête head + bêche, reduced from béchevet placed with the head of one against the foot of the other

Example Sentences

When science fiction jumped from pulp magazines to full books during the mass-market paperback revolution of the 1950s, publisher Ace Books used an innovative new format known as Tête-bêche.

From The Verge

Spoken extracts from his popular stream-of-consciousness novella “Tête-Bêche” provide a soundtrack for the moving trams.

From New York Times

The book – a “tête-bêche”, or “head-to-tail” edition, in which each poet’s work occupies a part of the book, which is printed upside down in relation to the other’s – is dedicated to their elder sister, Dana.

From The Guardian

Obverse Books' 'Team Up' of Paul Magrs and George Mann Like wedges, blue eyeshadow and harem pants, the tête-bêche is making one of its periodic returns to favour.

From The Guardian

But you won't see it on the catwalks, because tête-bêche is one of the quirkier paperback fashions that has a resurgence every couple of decades.

From The Guardian