A book bound in blue; now spec. one of the official reports of Parliament and the Privy Council, which are issued in a dark blue paper cover.
1715. Ashmole, Hist. Ord. Garter, vi. 155. The second of these Books is called the Blue Book; so called, being bound in Blue velvet; it begins with the first year of Queen Mary, and ends at the 18th of King Jac. i.
1824. (title) The Royal Blue Book (published by T. Gardiner & Son, Princes St.).
1845. Disraeli, Sybil (1863), 185. On another table were arranged his parliamentary papers, and piles of blue books.
fig. 1881. Seeley, in Macm. Mag., XLV. 51/1. History … is the great Blue-book of the statesman.
b. U.S. ‘A printed book containing the names of all persons holding office under the government of the United States, with their place of birth, amount of salary, etc.’ Bartlett, Dict. Amer. (1860).
