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I am cataloging a copy of <i>Bericht von den wunderbaren
bezoardischen Steinen</i> ... by Johann Wittich. Leipzig: Hans
Steinmanns Erben, M. D. LXXXIX. [1589]<br>
The chain lines are horizontal with no discernible watermarks. I
believe it is foolscap 4o. Actual pagination: [16], 146, [16],
147-181, [1] p.<br>
<br>
<u>My first question.</u><br>
The first two gatherings are signed with small letters enclosed in
reversed parentheses: )a( )a( ii )a( iii .... etc.<br>
Do I include the ")(" in the formula, which looks odd and makes it
difficult to read, or ignore the ")(" and simply record "a-b⁴" ?<br>
<i>[I'm inclined to ignore them because it does make the formula
difficult to read (see NYPL example below)]</i><br>
<br>
<u>Second question.</u><br>
One of the gatherings in the main text block is signed with question
marks enclosed in reversed parentheses ")?("<br>
Do I use the actual symbol "?" in the formula or treat it as I would
an unavailable character: [star] [dagger] [par.] ... etc.<br>
<br>
<u>Third question,</u> probably the most difficult. (Maybe even
impossible without examining the book!)<br>
The majority of signatures in the volume are fairly straightforward
through a-b⁴ A-S⁴, then things get odd at T (see below), but
normalcy resumes U-Z⁴.<br>
The binding is fairly tight, making it difficult to get a really
good look at the gatherings, but my initial attempt at the formula
looks like: <br>
a-b⁴ A-S⁴ [superscript chi]T⁶ ?⁴ T⁴ (-T1) U-Z⁴ [$3 signed
(+[superscript chi]T4; -a1, ?1, T2, Z3)] <br>
<br>
Then I found a record by NYPL in OCLC (#363204902) that used: <br>
)a(-)b(⁴ A-Z⁴ (interpolate: T⁴ chi1 )?(⁴, between T1 and T2)<br>
Which, if I am reading it correctly means that a singleton "chi1"
and a full gathering ")?(⁴" has been inserted between T1 and T2 ...<br>
<br>
So, short of unbinding the volume, is there any way to determine
what is going on between S⁴ and U⁴ ?<br>
<br>
Any guidance will be greatly appreciated!<br>
Barbara<br>
...................All opinions are entirely my
own....................<br>
<br>
Barbara R. Tysinger Phone:
(919)966-0949<br>
Health Sciences Library Fax:
(919)966-1388<br>
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill<br>
335 S. Columbia Street, CB# 7585<br>
Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7585<br>
e-mail: <a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:Barbara_Tysinger@unc.edu">Barbara_Tysinger@unc.edu</a><br>
<br>
......."Non pilus tam tenuis ut secari non possit."-- St.
Minutia......<br>
<br>
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