(urth) question about book anatomy

[Transentient]

With Pirate Freedom, Wolfe has again placed a favorite quote of his  
right at the beginning. After the acknowledgements, before the page  
with the title on it.

Can anybody tell me what this component of a book is called? Its not a  
preface, its not a forward...is it an epigram? It's "a quote at the  
beginning of a book..." and I know there is a more specific definition.