BLUE-BOOK, the general name given to the reports and other documents printed by order of the British Parliament, so called from their being usually covered with blue paper, though some are bound in drab and others have white covers. The print ing of its proceedings was first adopted by the House of Commons in 1681; in 1836 began the official practice of selling parlia mentary papers to the public. All notices of questions, resolu tions, votes and proceedings in both houses of parliament are issued each day during the session; other publications include the various papers issued by the different government departments, the reports of committees and commissions of inquiry, public bills, as well as returns, correspondence, etc., specially ordered to be printed by either house.
Most foreign countries have a distinctive colour for the binding of their official publications. That of the United States varies, but foreign diplomatic correspondence is bound in red. German official publications are bound in white; French, in yellow; Aus trian, in red; Portuguese, in white; Italian, in green ; Spanish, in red; Mexican, in green; Japanese, in grey; Chinese, in yellow,