What would have made Joseph Smith think of putting the Book of Mormon’s title page at the back, rather than the front?

There are many curious aspects of the Book of Mormon which, on their own, are not definitive evidence that the Book is of ancient origin, but combined create a compelling case. One such example is that the title page was located at the back of the book rather than the front. 

Joseph Smith wrote that: 

the title page of the Book of Mormon is a literal translation, taken from the very last leaf, on the left hand side of the collection or book of plates, which contained the record which has been translated. 

– History of the Church, 1:71

Why would Joseph have said that the title page was on the very last leaf (in other words, at the back)? Isn’t this completely against all his experience of books? The practice of writing the name, author and title of the book at the back is of ancient origin which seems to have originated in Mesopotamia and it is unclear how Joseph would have known about it.

Why didn’t Joseph make a big deal of this fact if he deliberately did it to look authentic?

See: 

• FAIR Latter-day Saints – Gold Plates Of The Book of Mormon

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