[DCRM-L] FW: gatherings signed in -- DRAFT Does this get to what we want?

[Joseph Ross]

Ellen,

The reason for recording Hebrew and Greek and Cyrillic numerals by Arabic
numerals but indicating that they are given in Hebrew or Greek numerals is
that it is not always obvious that this is a numeric signature rather than
an alphabetic one, especially if it is a small book with less than 11
quires.  And that would thus change the understanding of the structure of
the work.  I don't see a problem with recording the vernacular numerals as
long as one does make clear that they are numerals and not alphabetic
characters.

Most of the early Hebrew and Cyrillic signatures are numeric rather than
alphabetic even after the invention of printing.

I hope I am clear.  Please let me know if you have additional questions or
further clarification.

Joseph Ross
Rare Book Cataloger
University of Notre Dame

On Thu, May 24, 2018 at 10:37 AM, Cordes, Ellen <ellen.cordes at yale.edu>
wrote:

> Dear DCRM(B) catalogers,
>
> We who are not knowledgeable about Hebrew are asking for your help. What
> has been your understanding/practice in applying, briefly summarized for
> quick reference,
>
> 1)  DCRM(B) 7B9.6. Concurrent signatures, provide both sets of signatures
> in a note.
> 2)  DCRM(B) 7B9.7. Nonroman signatures (numeric sequence), represent the
> characters using Arabic numeration. Note parallel numeration using another
> script.
> 3)  DCRM(B) 7B9.8. Nonroman signatures (alphabetic sequence), transcribe
> in original script (if possible) or in Romanized form.
> 4)  DCRM(B) 7B9.9-10. Use Greek or Hebrew  alphabetic signatures, use the
> 24-letter (Greek) or 22-letter alphabet (Hebrew),  transcribe in original
> script (if possible) or in Romanized form.
> 5) DCRM(B) 7B9.9-11. Other nonroman alphabetic signatures, do not assume
> standard signing pattern; give first and last characters in each sequence,
> followed by total count.
>
> DCRM(B) tells us if nonroman characters are accompanied by parallel
> numeration, just note it.
> Example from DCRMB 7B9.7: Signatures (in parallel Hebrew and Arabic
> numerals): pi ⁸ 1-4 ⁸
>
> And yet, we find examples such as:  Signatures in Hebrew characters and
> Arabic numerals: 1[alef]-12[yod-bet]⁶ (1[alef]₂ verso blank, 12[yod-bet]₆
> verso blank)
>
> Why are we not recording both sequences when there are parallel instances?
> And second, why are we instructed in most cases to transcribe in original
> script EXCEPT in the case of nonroman numeric sequences?  Would we not want
> to record original script in all cases or transliterate?
>
>
> RDA Examples Group
>
>
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