Definition of blue book

The origin of the phrase "blue book" can be traced back to the early 19th century in Britain, where it was used to refer to a publication containing listings of magazines and newspapers. The first official "Blue Book" in this context was published in 1818 by the Stationery Office in London, and it featured a blue cover to distinguish it from other government documents. However, the current use of the term "blue book" in the United States refers to a government publication that provides detailed reports, analyses, and statistics on a particular topic. This usage can be traced back to the early 20th century, when the U.S. Government Printing Office began producing reports on various subjects in blue covers as a way to more easily distinguish them from other publications. The first official "Blue Book" in this context was published in 1921, and it focused on federal expositions and world's fairs. Over time, the term "blue book" has come to be associated with authoritative and comprehensive reports on important issues, and it is still used today by various government agencies and organizations to describe their research and analysis.