[DCRM-L] odd index signatures

[Deborah J. Leslie]

I’ve taken a look at the facsimile, and can make neither heads nor tails of the signature pattern. Is the volume bound too tightly to see where center sewing might be located?

______________________
Deborah J Leslie, M.A., M.L.S. | Senior Cataloger | Folger Shakespeare Library | 201 East Capitol Street, S.E. Washington, DC 20003 | djleslie at folger.edu<mailto:djleslie at folger.edu> | www.folger.edu<http://www.folger.edu/> | Opinions her own

From: DCRM-L <dcrm-l-bounces at lib.byu.edu> On Behalf Of Daniel Axmacher
Sent: Monday, 8 November, 2021 10:48
To: dcrm-l at lib.byu.edu
Subject: [DCRM-L] odd index signatures

Hi all,

I've run into another book with some confusing signatures and I'm hoping the listserv might be able to help.

In n the 10th volume of Desiderii Erasmi Roterodami Opera omnia, printed by Pieter Van der Aa in Leiden in 1706, the index is signed on every page as follows: a1-a21, b1-b6, c1-c30, and d1-d7.
Volumes 9 and 10 in the Athenaeum's set are bound together, but otherwise seem to be in typical folio format, paginated and signed continuously in gatherings of 4 up until the index. The final leaf preceding the index is 6B1. I think it might be a singleton, but I've had a difficult time puzzling out the actual structure from the sewing and watermarks. I'm not really sure what to make of the odd signatures, or how to note them.

For reference, it looks like there's a republished facsimile copy up on HathiTrust that replicates the signatures. https://hdl.handle.net/2027/pst.000046018779?urlappend=%3Bseq=321%3Bownerid=13510798902567536-331<https://protect-us.mimecast.com/s/BR0OCNkK3Gi26Z6smIZ_o?domain=hdl.handle.net>

Does anyone have any insight into what's going on with these signatures or advice on how to proceed?

Thanks in advance,
Dan Axmacher
--
Daniel P. Axmacher
[he/him/his]
Rare Materials Catalog Librarian
Boston Athenæum
10½ Beacon Street
Boston, MA 02108
617-227-0270 ext. 245<tel:%28617%29%20227-0270>
www.bostonathenaeum.org<https://protect-us.mimecast.com/s/kNZOCPNK3Gf7606H1vZK4?domain=bostonathenaeum.org>
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