[DCRM-L] Frontispiece conjugate with t.p.

Randal Brandt rbrandt at library.berkeley.edu
Thu Sep 9 11:47:52 MDT 2010


  I'm trying to come up with a clear (and elegant) way to describe a 
frontispiece that integral to the first gathering and is conjugate with 
the title page. I have seen several examples of this situation, and a 
couple of different ways to express it, and would appreciate it if 
anyone on this list has something better to offer.

Here's the deal: In, for example, an octavo, the frontispiece 
illustration is printed on the verso of the last leaf (A8) of the first 
gathering. The sheet is folded and opened (at least partially) before 
binding, A8 is then folded around so that it precedes A1, thus forming a 
frontispiece that is conjugate to the t.p. (A1). Assuming the page 
numbering starts with A1, the page number of B1 is then 15, and so on.

Here are some ways of expressing this in the catalog record:

Example 1:
Signatures: A[superscript 8] (A8=frontispiece) B-Z[superscript8]
Note: Frontispiece is conjugate with title page

Example 2:
Signatures: A-Z[superscript8]
Note: Leaves A1.8 folded to form frontispiece (leaf A8) and title page 
(leaf A1)


Any preferences for either of the above examples? Any other ideas? I've 
looked through Bowers and Gaskell and cannot find anything like this. 
(Most of the examples like this I have seen have been in German imprints.)

Thanks!
Randy

-- 
__________________________
Randal Brandt
Principal Cataloger
The Bancroft Library
(510) 643-2275
rbrandt at library.berkeley.edu
http://bancroft.berkeley.edu
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remembering my reasons for them"--The Streets.




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