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<p class="MsoNormal">I am fresh off of Deborah J. Leslie’s Rare Book Cataloging course at the Rare Book School, and I have my first rare book sitting in front of me. It’s a French book from 1679.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">One question I have is about determining format. The book dealer says it’s a 24mo. The gatherings have 6 leaves each, the chain lines are horizontal, and the height is 13 cm.
<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">According to my chart a 24mo with horizontal chain lines cannot have 6 leaves. I’m thinking it’s a 12mo.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">There is a dcrmb record in OCLC for a 12mo copy that is very similar to mine (signatures and number of preliminary pages are different). 973455836.<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">So, my questions are: how much weight does a cataloger give to a dealer’s description? And, is the information I’ve provided here (gatherings of 6 leaves, horizontal chain lines, height 13 cm) enough evidence to determine that my book
is a 12mo?<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">If this is an inappropriate question please be gentle with me. I’m an old cataloger, but a spanking new rare-book cataloger, eager to participate in this community.<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Thank you,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">June Rutkowski<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Cataloger<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Harvard Library Information and Technical Services<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Cambridge, MA 02139<o:p></o:p></p>
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