fillo n.

a small illustration used to fill space, esp. in a fanzine

[< filler + illo n.]

Fancyclopedia


SF Fandom

  • 1959 R. H. Eney Fancyclopedia II 7 Dick Eney bibliography

    Fragmentary sketches are also used as fillers (hence the byname fillo) or sometimes stuck around on the page to break up the dead-solid type.

  • 1963 Wild Colonial Boy Apr. 29

    I see you like Philloesβ€”I have about ten pages of the things here, and one day when I have time I'll try illustrations in the middle of this unreadable stuff. At least you'll have something to look at then.

  • 1965 A. Kuhfeld in Twilight Zine ?Aug.β€”Sept. 27

    Well, I can take a hint as well as the next man, so find enclosed seven fillos, an illo, and a cartoon.

  • 1985 Erg (#92) Oct. 15 page image

    Plenty of nice fillo art, and no doubt a faunching letter might get you a copy.

  • 2001 Science Fiction Chronicle July 15/1

    In these days of fewer and fewer fan artists, small fillos suitable for use in fanzines are available free from Randy B. Cleary.

Research requirements

antedating 1959
Earliest cite

R. Eney 'Fancyclopedia II'
Research History
Cory Panshin submitted a 1965 cite from Al Kuhfeld from the letter column of the MIT SFS's "Twilight Zine".
Fred Galvin submitted a 1959 cite from Fancyclopedia II.
Fred Galvin submitted a 1963 cite for the form "phillo" from an apazine by John Foyster.
Jesse Sheidlower submitted a 1985 cite from Erg #92.

We would like cites of any date from other sources.

Bhob Stewart contacted us with the comment that he remembers coining the word around 1954, and that he had some correspondence with the editor of Fancyclopedia on this point: so there may be examples in print antedating the earliest yet found.

Last modified 2020-12-24 23:00:48
In the compilation of some entries, HDSF has drawn extensively on corresponding entries in OED.