[DCRM-L] Odd signature pattern worth a note?

[Noble, Richard]

This is the standard signature pattern for 6s of this period. If you're
simply giving a "signatures" note it's not worth remarking.

Underlying logic: 6s require that 2 leaves be cut out of the sheet and
bound in the center (between leaves 2 and 5); so "A2" really means "the
second piece". In 12s, in which a 4-leaf off-cut is quired into the
remaining 8 leaves, the corresponding practice is to sign leaves 1 and 5,
likewise signing as "A2" etc., or sometimes 1,2 and 5 (as A1, A2, A3).

In these examples, a full collation is routinely followed by a signing
statement (using "$" to mean "any signature"); the patterns here are common
ones:

Collation: [A]⁴ b1[=Y12] B-X¹² Y¹²(-Y12) [$1,2,5 signed; signing $5 as
'$3']; 256 leaves, pp. [i-v] vi-ix [x], [1] 2-502 + folded diagram facing
p. 117.

Collation: [a]⁶ b⁶ A-2I⁶ [$1,3 (-b3, K3) signed; signing $3 as '$2' except
A3 as 'A3' and 2E3 as '2E3']; 204 leaves, pp. [i-iii] iv-v [vi-vii]
viii-xxiv, [1] 2-383 [384] + plates [12].

Collation: 12mo: v.1. A-K¹² [$1,5 signed; signing $5 as '$2']; 120 leaves,
pp. [1-5] 6-235 [236-240] + 2 plates -- v.2. [A]² B-L¹² M⁴ [$1,5 signed;
signing $5 as '$2']; 126 leaves, pp. [i-vii] 'vii' [ix] x-xii [13] 14-53
50-244 [245-248] [=252] + 2 plates.

When the signatures are numeric, the most common practice is to add an
asterisk to the signature on $3 or $5.


RICHARD NOBLE :: RARE MATERIALS CATALOGUER :: JOHN HAY LIBRARY
BROWN UNIVERSITY  ::  PROVIDENCE, R.I. 02912  ::  401-863-1187
<Richard_Noble at Br <RICHARD_NOBLE at BROWN.EDU>own.edu>

On Tue, Jun 7, 2016 at 12:18 PM, Amy Robertson <dawson at american.edu> wrote:

> Hello all --
>
> I have a book in hand with gatherings of 6 where A3 is marked as A2 and A2
> itself is blank. This pattern is followed throughout the book. It is
> American from 1826. I have made a signatures statement in the record but am
> wondering if I need to add a note. Any guidance is appreciated.
>
> --
> Amy
> Cataloging Services Unit
> American University
>
>
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