[DCRM-L] More signature questions

[Barbara Tysinger]

I am cataloging a copy of /Bericht von den wunderbaren bezoardischen 
Steinen/ ... by Johann Wittich. Leipzig: Hans Steinmanns Erben, M. D. 
LXXXIX. [1589]
The chain lines are horizontal with no discernible watermarks. I believe 
it is foolscap 4o. Actual pagination: [16], 146, [16], 147-181, [1] p.

_My first question._
The first two gatherings are signed with small letters enclosed in 
reversed parentheses:   )a(    )a( ii   )a( iii  .... etc.
Do I include the ")(" in the formula, which looks odd and makes it 
difficult to read, or ignore the ")(" and simply record "a-b⁴" ?
/[I'm inclined to ignore them because it does make the formula difficult 
to read (see NYPL example below)]/

_Second question._
One of the gatherings in the main text block is signed with question 
marks enclosed in reversed parentheses ")?("
Do I use the actual symbol "?" in the formula or treat it as I would an 
unavailable character:  [star]   [dagger]   [par.]  ... etc.

_Third question,_ probably the most difficult. (Maybe even impossible 
without examining the book!)
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.
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:
a-b⁴ A-S⁴ [superscript chi]T⁶ ?⁴ T⁴ (-T1) U-Z⁴ [$3 signed (+[superscript 
chi]T4; -a1, ?1, T2, Z3)]

Then I found a record by NYPL in OCLC (#363204902) that used:
)a(-)b(⁴ A-Z⁴ (interpolate: T⁴ chi1 )?(⁴, between T1 and T2)
Which, if I am reading it correctly means that a singleton "chi1" and a 
full gathering ")?(⁴" has been inserted between T1 and T2 ...

So, short of unbinding the volume, is there any way to determine what is 
going on between S⁴ and U⁴ ?

Any guidance will be greatly appreciated!
Barbara
...................All opinions are entirely my own....................

Barbara R. Tysinger                                Phone: (919)966-0949
Health Sciences Library                            Fax: (919)966-1388
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
335 S. Columbia Street, CB# 7585
Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7585
e-mail: Barbara_Tysinger at unc.edu

......."Non pilus tam tenuis ut secari non possit."-- St. Minutia......

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