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

[Noble, Richard]

If you were in RBS Des Bib, I'd have the right to tell y'all that the right
way to describe this is pi^2 A^6 ... etc. The *printing *formula is A^8; but
in the *issue* formula for the correctly finished book you always describe
the structure in terms of the relationships of the bifolia (folds). To call
these eight leaves A^8 leaves you with a formula that is, quite simply,
incorrect: that superscript 8 has a very unambiguous meaning. (This is the
most basic of all rules for this species of notation.)

You may still--really should--explain how this bit of structure came about,
since you need to make it clear that the frontispiece leaf is not a plate.
Also, assuming that gathering A includes signatures, it may be that, say,
leaf A2 in the book as bound is signed A3--in which case it must be noted as
missigned. ("Missigned" doesn't necessarily mean that the printer made a
mistake; it simply means that the signature doesn't correspond to the
structure of the finished book.) If there are no signatures before B, the
right formula would be [A]^2 chi^6 ..., though there's (just) wiggle room
for debate about the designation of the second gathering.

RICHARD NOBLE : RARE BOOKS CATALOGER : JOHN HAY LIBRARY : BROWN UNIVERSITY
PROVIDENCE, RI 02912 : 401-863-1187/FAX 863-3384 : RICHARD_NOBLE at BROWN.EDU


On Thu, Sep 9, 2010 at 2:03 PM, Deborah J. Leslie <DJLeslie at folger.edu>wrote:

> Randy,
>
> I would stay away from your first example; there is no need to separate
> 'A' out of the sequence, since the parenthetical doesn't affect the
> number of leaves, but only gives more information about the content. One
> way is to put this kind of information after a semi-colon at the end of
> the signature statement. I.e., Signatures: A-Z[superscript8]; A8 is the
> frontispiece.
>
> I like the wording of your note, though, which could be used along with
> or instead of the information as part of the signature statement.
> Perhaps a slight tweaking, something like: Leaf A8 is back-folded to
> form the frontispiece.
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: dcrm-l-bounces at lib.byu.edu [mailto:dcrm-l-bounces at lib.byu.edu] On
> Behalf Of Randal Brandt
> Sent: Thursday, 09 September, 2010 13:48
> To: DCRM Revision Group List
> Subject: [DCRM-L] Frontispiece conjugate with t.p.
>
>   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
> "It's hard enough to remember my opinions without
> remembering my reasons for them"--The Streets.
>
>
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