[DCRM-L] Determining bibliographical format

[Noble, Richard]

A small 12mo in half sheets sounds about right. The OCLC record you cite
seems--on very brief inspection--to correspond to this edition of the work:

      https://www.lexart.fr/sources/view/1504

If your preliminary matter differs that's a strong indication of a variant
edition requiring a different record, but the digitized copy can give you a
basis for comparison as to how extensive the difference is.

Good luck!

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 Thu, Jun 13, 2019 at 10:36 AM Rutkowski, June <rutkowsk at fas.harvard.edu>
wrote:

> I am fresh off of Deborah J. Leslie’s Rare Book Cataloging course at the
> Rare Book School, and I have my first rare book sitting in front of me.
> It’s a French book from 1679.
>
>
>
> One question I have is about determining format.  The book dealer says
> it’s a 24mo.  The gatherings have 6 leaves each, the chain lines are
> horizontal, and the height is 13 cm.
>
>
>
> According to my chart a 24mo with horizontal chain lines cannot have 6
> leaves.  I’m thinking it’s a 12mo.
>
>
>
> There is a dcrmb record in OCLC for a 12mo copy that is very similar to
> mine (signatures and number of preliminary pages are different). 973455836.
>
>
>
> So, my questions are: how much weight does a cataloger give to a dealer’s
> description?  And, is the information I’ve provided here (gatherings of 6
> leaves, horizontal chain lines, height 13 cm) enough evidence to determine
> that my book is a 12mo?
>
>
>
> If this is an inappropriate question please be gentle with me.  I’m an old
> cataloger, but a spanking new rare-book cataloger, eager to participate in
> this community.
>
>
>
> Thank you,
>
> June Rutkowski
>
> Cataloger
>
> Harvard Library Information and Technical Services
>
> Cambridge, MA 02139
>
>
>
>
>
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