I. The Titles are to be transcribed in full, including the names of Authors, Editors,
Translators, Commentators, Continuators, &c., precisely as they
stand upon the title-page.
Exceptions. There are many titles from which
much may well be omitted. But to make omissions without prejudice to
ready investigation is an extremely difficult and delicate task, in the
performance of which, uniformity is highly important; it is therefore
desirable that all abridgments be made by the same person. To this end,
the rule should stand without exception, so far as the writing out of
the titles is concerned. The abridgments for printing should all be
made by the superintendent, and only in the following cases:
Additions to names of authors, &c., not necessary for their
identification; mottoes, repetitions, or expletives not essential to a
full and clear titular description of the book, may be omitted.
Omissions of mottoes and devices are to be denoted by three stars; of
other matter, by three dots, placed thus ...
No omission is to be made which requires any change in, or addition
to, the phraseology of that part of the title which is retained. Not
even an improvement of the title, by any change, is to be allowed.
Remark 1. This rule is understood to apply
only to the principal entry. It is supposed that each title will be
entered in full only once. All other entries will refer to this full
entry. They will be called Cross-References; and rules for
their preparation are given hereafter.
Remark 2. It is necessary (in this plan) to
give the name of the Author, in connection with the title, although it
be but a repetition of the heading; for the heading will be stereotyped
separate from the title, and, therefore, the title should contain all
that is necessary to indicate its proper position, in the alphabetical
order, in case of displacement.
Remark 3. Experience shows that it takes
less time to transcribe titles in full, than to abridge them with any
tolerable degree of accuracy. It requires, too, less learning and
experience in the cataloguer. That a catalogue can be made more
rapidly, more economically, and more satisfactorily by transcribing the
titles faithfully and fully, without the omission of a single letter or
point, than by any proper plan of abridgment, cannot be denied by any
one who has fairly tried the experiment.3) If the
catalogue were not to be printed, this rule should have no exception
whatever. The printing, however, introduces two considerations to
modify the rule, namely, the expense of printing, and the
bulk of the catalogue. The force of the former consideration
is much diminished by the plan of stereotyping the titles. It is but a
first expense that we have to meet, not a repetition of it. Besides, no
library but the first has to print all its titles. The saving, even to
the second library, by the use of those already stereotyped, would
doubtless far more than counterbalance the extra expense of printing
long titles. The bulk of the catalogue is certainly a matter of
considerable importance, though of less than might, at first, be
supposed. It does not make much difference, in convenience of use,
whether such a work as an Encyclopædia be in a hundred volumes or in
ten, though it is, of course, more convenient to refer to one volume
than to ten. The proposed general catalogue would doubtless exceed one
volume, even with short titles. But convenience should not be allowed
to have more influence than the demands of learned investigators. The
bulk of catalogues should not be considered in opposition to their
accuracy, and to such a degree
of fulness of title, as may be necessary to identify the book, and to
give all such particulars of information, as may justly be expected
from a titular description.
Remark 4. It is deemed unnecessary to
prescribe any particular form of card or paper for use in copying the
titles. If they are to be printed at once, it will be found most
convenient to write them on one side only of common foolscap paper.
Cross references should immediately follow the titles to which they
belong. If cards have already been adopted in the library to be
catalogued, their form need not be changed. They may be placed in the
hands of the printer without being transcribed. A manuscript catalogue
for constant use should generally be upon cards. A very convenient
method of keeping them is that employed by Mr. Folsom in the Boston
Athenæum. The cards are long and narrow; are so perforated that they
may be strung upon cords, which, being elastic, allow free motion
without displacement; and are kept in cases, made to resemble folio
volumes, one side of which opens like the cover of a book.
II. The Titles are to be transcribed
with exactness.
Remark 1. The titles are not to be
translated by the cataloguer. If, however, the original title,
being in a language which does not admit of being represented in the
Roman character, be accompanied by a translation into a language for
which the Roman alphabet may be used, the latter may be given without
the former; this peculiarity being mentioned, with such explanations as
will prevent mistake as to the language in which the book is printed.
If the book be in several languages, and be provided with title-pages
for each, or for several, the cataloguer may give the preference to
languages using the Roman alphabet in the following order: English,
Latin, French, Italian, Spanish, German. The other title-pages should
however be mentioned.
Remark 2. The precise phraseology,
however quaint, awkward, or ungrammatical, must be scrupulously
followed. When striking faults or errors occur, the cataloguer should
write [sic], after each of them,
to denote that the title has been faithfully copied, and that the error
is not attributable to his carelessness.
Remark 3. The exact mode of
spelling, however inaccurate or antiquated, must be
conscientiously copied. When abbreviations appear upon the title-page,
they should, in transcribing, be copied accurately. They should also,
if possible, be printed. These are most frequent in early printed Latin
and Greek books. If types cannot be had for printing these
abbreviations, the word should be given in full; the added letters
being italics.
Remark 4. The punctuation of the
title-page should also be retained. Sometimes, in the titles of modern
books, no pointing is used; in such cases, none should be introduced.
Wide spaces may be used instead.
Remark 5. The accentuation of the
original should be preserved. In French books, however, it often
happens that parts of the title-page are printed in capitals without
accents, and other parts in "lower-case" letters with accents. This is
attributable to the general want of accents upon what are called
"title-letters." To avoid the striking incongruity which would be
occasioned by printing one part with, and another without accents, when
the same letter is used throughout the title, it will be proper to add
the accents, where they are omitted in the titles of foreign books; but
not to omit or alter any which occur.
Remark 6. When possible, the form of
letter (as Black Letter, Italic, Greek, Hebrew, &c.), is to be
preserved. When Black Letter, Italic, or any peculiar letter or cut of
type is used, in the title, merely as a typographical embellishment, it
is not to be copied; but only when the whole book is printed in it.
This rule has no limitation, except the knowledge of the cataloguer,
and the means of the printing office. With reference to those languages
in which is embodied the great mass of literature, there will be little
difficulty in finding men to copy the titles with accuracy; and the
printing office should contain varieties of type, Roman, Black Letter,
German, Greek, Hebrew, and, in time, fonts of other alphabets.
Books in languages which cannot, at first, be correctly printed or
written, should be reported from each library, as accurately and fully
as possible. An arrangement may hereafter be made to employ competent
persons to catalogue such works, and means may be procured
for printing or engraving their titles. No title, however, should be
stereotyped for the General Catalogue, till its accuracy and conformity
to the rules are fully ascertained.
Remark 7. This principle does not apply to
the use of capitals or small letters. Most title-pages are
printed wholly in large letters; some are partly in large and partly in
small letters. For the catalogue, they are to be written and printed in
small letters.
Remark 8.
Initial capitals are to be used only when the laws of the
language now require them. In English, the first word of every
sentence, proper names, adjectives derived from proper names, names of
the Deity, the first word of the title of a book quoted within another
title, and titles of respect or office, such as Hon., Mr., Dr., Capt.,
Rev., (whether contracted or not,) prefixed to a name, should be
written and printed with initial capitals. In German and Danish, every
noun begins with a capital. In French, Spanish, Italian and Portuguese,
adjectives derived from proper names, are not, as in English, generally
printed with initial capitals. In Latin, the English usage in this
particular should be followed. It would doubtless be more satisfactory
to make the titles, as printed in the catalogue, perfect transcripts of
the title-pages, in respect to the use of initial capitals; but this is
hardly practicable. The use of both upper-case and lower-case letters
in a title-page, is for the most part a matter of the printer's taste,
and does not generally indicate the author's purpose. To copy them in a
catalogue with literal exactness would be exceedingly difficult, and of
no practical benefit. In those parts of the title-page which are
printed wholly in capitals, initials are undistinguished. It would be
unsightly and un-undesirable
undesirable to distinguish
the initials where the printer had done so, and omit them where he had
used a form of letter, which prohibited his distinguishing them. It
would teach nothing to copy from the book the initial capitals in one
part of the title, and allow the cataloguer to supply them in other
parts. The only practicable method of securing uniformity or
convenience would seem to be, to require, as is done above, the
cataloguer to employ initial capitals according to established laws,
regardless of the title-page.
There are certain features of title-pages which it is wholly
impracticable
to transfer to a catalogue. For example, they generally are (as they
always should be) inscriptions, and as such are meant to have
a certain local disposition of parts which serves to interpret
them, by showing at a glance their relations to each other. A title in
a catalogue cannot be expected to retain this important feature of an
inscription.
III. The whole Title is to be
repeated for every distinct edition of the work; and the number of
the edition, if not the first, is to be always given.
Remark 1. The necessity of this rule arises
from the stereotyping of the titles separately. It is frequently the
case, that publishers, after having stereotyped a book, call every
thousand copies of it a separate edition, and, for twenty or more
editions, there may be no alteration in the book, except in the word
expressing the number of the edition, and in the date. In such cases,
it cannot be necessary to print a separate title for each pretended
edition. If there be any important alteration of the book, it should be
designated as a distinct edition. This irregularity is found mostly, if
not exclusively, in American books, and occurs principally in
school-books.
It is easy to see how this artifice of bibliopoles would occasion
great trouble to cataloguers, if it were common. Some publishers have
introduced the terms "second thousand," "tenth thousand," &c.,
instead of "second edition," "tenth edition." This is more honest, and
for our purposes more convenient. But it is not necessary to introduce
these chiliads into the catalogue.
Minor changes are sometimes made in the stereotype plates, after a
part of the copies have been printed; that is, some error may be
discovered and corrected, or some word substituted for another. But
such changes are generally slight and unimportant. They can only be
detected by comparing one copy of a book with another, and, when known,
are seldom worthy of notice.
Sometimes, the title of a book is the same in two editions, while the
body of the work is more or less altered. Sometimes, also, the title is
changed while the book remains entirely unaltered. Such
instances are, however, of comparatively rare occurrence. They are, or
should be, noted in bibliographical dictionaries. It is not often the
case, that the two editions are to be found in one library;
consequently, an account of such variations cannot be expected from the
cataloguer. But, if such facts become known to him, they should be
carefully noted.
The increase of the bulk of the catalogue, which this rule will
occasion, may appear, at first sight, to be a grave difficulty. It
should be considered, however, that the number of books, which reach a
second edition, is comparatively small; and, that, although there may
be a hundred editions of a book, those only will have their titles
repeated, which belong to the library to be catalogued. The increase in
bulk will be much less considerable than might be apprehended, and it
will be more than compensated for, by the greater exactness of the
descriptions. Any one, who has had much experience in examining
catalogues, must have been frequently puzzled to ascertain the exact
character of several editions of a book, where the only description of
any edition after the first, is "The same," or
"Ditto," with a different date. We may wish to know
whether the titles are identical. In the title of a later edition, some
particular may have been given, which to us is very important, but
which the cataloguer has omitted. To bibliographers, and men of habits
of careful investigation, different editions are different books, and
they should be always described, in catalogues, as particularly as if
they were independent works.
IV. Early printed books, without
title-pages, are to be catalogued in the words of the head-title,
preceded by the word [Beginning], in italics and between
brackets; to which are to be added the words of the colophon,
preceded by the word [Ending],
in italics and between brackets.
If there be neither head-title nor colophon, such a description of
the work should be given, in English, and between brackets, as may
serve for its identification.
Remark 1. Books printed before the adoption
of separate title-pages are comparatively few. Most of them have been
described with great minuteness by bibliographers, particularly by
Maittaire, Denis, Panzer, and Hain. It will be best, in all cases, to
refer to their works in cataloguing such books.
These books generally have at the beginning a head-title, which
contains a sufficient description of the book, while in the colophon
the place of publication, name of the printer, date, &c., are
given; but sometimes the book begins with a table, or dedication, or
register, and has no colophon. In such cases, not unfrequently, there
is a title at the end of the table, or in the dedication. In short, so
great is the variety of cases, that it would be extremely difficult, if
not impossible, to give rules applicable to them all. The rule given
above will, it is thought, be found sufficiently comprehensive.
V. In cataloguing Academical
Dissertations, Orations, &c., the subject-matter is to be given
as the title. If that be not expressed upon the title-page, it is to
be supplied within brackets, if possible in the words of the author,
otherwise in English and in italics. The contracted words [Diss. Ac.] when necessary to
indicate the character of the publication, should be prefixed. The
occasion may generally be omitted, except when the subject of the
dissertation or oration has some special reference to it.
VI. In cataloguing Sermons, the book,
chapter and verse of the text; the date, if it
differs from that of publication; and the occasion, if a
special one, are to be given. When these are not upon the title-page,
they are to be supplied between brackets, and in italics.
VII. Periodical publications are to
be recorded in the
words of the title-page of the last complete volume; but without
designation of volume or date.
The history of the publication from its commencement, including all
changes of form, title, editorship, &c., is to be given in a
note.
Remark 1. This rule applies to Reviews,
Magazines, &c.; not to works issued in parts, sometimes called
"serials," nor to transactions of learned societies.
Remark 2. The last title is preferred for
the catalogue, because it is that by which the work is currently known,
and because of the peculiar difficulty of finding complete sets of
these publications. If the title be changed, it will become necessary
to prepare a new one for the catalogue, and to make an addition to the
note.
VIII. After the words of the title,
the number of parts, volumes, fasciculi, or whatever may be the
peculiar divisions of each work, is to be specified.
When nothing is said, in the title, respecting this point, if the
work be divided into several portions, but the same paging continue,
or, when the pages are not numbered, if the same register continue,
the work is to be considered as divided into parts (not
volumes). If the progressive number of the pages, or the register be
interrupted, then each series of pages, or of letters of the
register, is to be designated as a volume.
Remark 1. In designating volumes when the
number is not stated upon the title-page, the words Volume, Tome,
Theil, Band, Deel, &c., may generally be represented by the
initials alone. The numbers may be always expressed by Arabic figures.
If the ordinal expression of number be used on the title-page, the
figures may be given, and the ordinal termination omitted. The numbers
of the first
and of the last volume only are to be given, with a dash between them,
thus:
| V. 1—8. |
for |
Volume 1—Volume 8, i.e. Volume first—Volume eighth, or First
Volume—Eighth Volume. |
| B. 2—22. |
" |
Zweiter Band—Zwei und zwanzigster Band. |
| T. 1—4. |
" |
Tomo 1—Tomo 4. |
| Th. 1—6. |
" |
Theil 1—Theil 6. |
Remark 2. When there is a discrepancy
between the number of divisions of a work indicated on the title-page,
and the actual number of volumes, as defined above, (that is, of
divisions with separate pagings), the number of pagings should
be stated;—each paging being considered a distinct volume. The paging
of the preface and introductory matter is to be excepted. Appendixes,
when separately paged, should be specially noticed in the title, though
not reckoned as separate volumes.
IX. Next should follow the designation
of the place and date
of publication. The name of the place should be given in the form and
language of the title-page. If, in that, it be abbreviated, the full
name should be supplied, but not translated; the added parts being
between brackets.
Should either of these particulars be omitted in the title-page, the
deficiency should be supplied from the knowledge of the librarian, or
be noticed, in italics and between brackets.
Remark 1. It would on many accounts be
desirable to give the name of the publisher, but, as it would add very
much to the labor of preparation, and considerably increase the size of
the catalogue, it is thought best not to do so.
Remark 2. In the case of early printed
books, and typographical rarities, or where several editions of the
same book are known to have been published in the same year and place,
by different publishers, the name of the publisher should be
specified.
Remark 3. The date is to be given in Arabic
figures, unless numerals be used in the title-page, in such a manner as
to be on some accounts distinctive.
X. Next after the imprint should follow
the designation of size.
In accordance with general usage, the fold of the sheet, as folio,
quarto, octavo, when it can be ascertained, is to be stated. As an
additional, and more exact designation of size, the Height and
Breadth of the first full signature page (the folio and
signature lines being omitted in the measurement) are to be stated in
inches and tenths, the fractions being expressed decimally.
Explanation 1. The librarian should use a
small square or rule, marked with inches and tenths. The first number
given should represent the height, and the second, the breadth of the
page. In the catalogue, the measurement would be recorded thus:—
8º (7.3×4.2)
that is, fold of sheet, 8vo; measuring, 7 inches and 3 tenths in
height, by 4 inches and 2 tenths in breadth.
Explanation 2. When the first signature
page is not a full page, or when it has foot notes, turn to the first
succeeding signature page which is full and without notes.
Explanation 3. When there are no signatures,
measure the first full recto page. If the other
pages vary much from the standard page, add irr. for
irregular.
Explanation 4. Marginal rules and side
marginal references and notes are not to be regarded in the
measurement; some editions may be printed with and some without them.
But such marginal references should be mentioned.
Explanation 5. Catch-words generally stand
upon the signature line, and are therefore not to be counted. The
measurement of height should, however, comprise all printed matter
below the folio
line, and above the signature line. By folio line is meant that upon
which stands the number of the page.
Remarks. The designation of the form is
added to the titles of books in catalogues for two purposes: to enable
one to distinguish between different editions of the same book, and to
convey to those who have not seen the book, some idea of its size.
The fold of the paper has been universally adopted, as the measure of
size. A sheet once folded, forming two leaves, or four pages, is a
folio. A sheet twice folded, forming four leaves or eight pages, is a
quarto. A sheet three times folded, forming eight leaves, or sixteen
pages, is an octavo. A sheet so folded as to form twelve leaves, or
twenty-four pages, is a duodecimo. And so on.
But this method of designating the size of a book is inexact and
frequently deceptive; because, 1st, it is not always possible to
ascertain the fold; and, 2dly, the fold, when ascertained, gives no
definite indication of the size or shape of the book.
In many books one can tell, at a glance, the fold of the sheet; but it
is unsafe to rely upon this first impression. Examination of signatures
is indispensable. Sometimes, it is necessary to examine also the
water-lines and water-marks. Occasionally, all these will fail us.
Signatures are letters or figures placed at the bottom of the
first page of each sheet, as guides to the binder, to denote the order
of the sheets. The signatures of the different forms from folio to
32mo, would regularly be placed as follows:
| Folio, sheet, |
on pages |
1, |
5, |
9, |
13, |
17, |
21, |
&c. |
| Quarto, " |
" " |
1, |
9, |
17, |
25, |
33, |
41, |
&c. |
| Octavo, " |
" " |
1, |
17, |
33, |
49, |
65, |
81, |
&c. |
| 8vo, 1/2 sheet, |
" " |
1, |
9, |
17, |
25, |
33, |
41, |
&c. |
| 12mo, sheet, |
" " |
1, |
25, |
49, |
73, |
97, |
121, |
&c. |
| 12mo, 1/2 sheet, |
" " |
1, |
13, |
25, |
37, |
49, |
61, |
&c. |
| 16mo, sheet, |
" " |
1, |
33, |
65, |
97, |
129, |
161, |
&c. |
| 16mo, 1/2 sheet, |
" " |
1, |
17, |
33, |
49, |
65, |
81, |
&c. |
| 18mo, sheet, |
" " |
1, |
37, |
73, |
109, |
145, |
181, |
&c. |
| 18mo, 1/2 sheet, |
" " |
1, |
19, |
37, |
55, |
73, |
91, |
&c. |
| 24mo, sheet, |
" " |
1, |
49, |
97, |
145, |
193, |
241, |
&c. |
|
|
| 24mo, 1/2 sheet, |
" " |
1, |
25, |
49, |
73, |
97, |
121, |
&c. |
| 32mo, sheet, |
" " |
1, |
65, |
129, |
193, |
257, |
321, |
&c. |
| 32mo, 1/2 sheet, |
" " |
1, |
33, |
65, |
97, |
129, |
161, |
&c. |
But sometimes the paging of the book begins in the midst of a
signature; in such cases the signatures would fall on pages different
from the above, throughout the book, though the intervals would be
regular. Double signatures are sometimes placed upon stereotype plates,
to enable printers to impose them either as octavos or duodecimos.
Besides the principal signatures, there are subordinate signatures,
which, as they do not help to distinguish the size of the book, but are
only used to aid the binder, are omitted in the above table.
It will be seen from this table, that the signatures are precisely the
same for 8vos, in half sheets, as for 4tos; for 16mos, in half sheets,
as for 8vos; for 24mos, in half sheets, as for 12mos; for 32mos, in
half sheets, as for 16mos.
Printers impose in half sheets or sheets, according to their
convenience. Of course, therefore, from the signatures alone,
it is impossible to distinguish between 4tos and 8vos, 8vos and 16mos,
12mos and 24mos, 16mos and 32mos. It is generally easy to determine the
fold by the size and shape of the book, but (as we shall show
hereafter) not always.
Signatures do not occur in the earliest printed books; but as this
class of books is small, and very particularly described by Panzer,
Hain, and others, there is but little difficulty in ascertaining the
precise description of them.
Books may be quired in printing, that is, several sheets may be put
together, like the sheets in a quire of paper. In this case the
principal signature is the same as if the whole formed only one sheet.
A folio may thus be undistinguishable from an 8vo, by the signatures
alone.
When signatures fail us, resort may sometimes be had to the water
lines, which, by holding the paper up to the light, may be seen
crossing the sheet perpendicularly, in the folio, 8vo, 18mo, 24mo, and
32mo; and horizontally, in all the other forms less than 32mo;
sometimes, also, in the 24mo. The water-mark is a device
of the manufacturer, placed in the middle of the half sheet, and
distinguishable in the same way as the water-line. In the folio, this
occurs in the middle of the page; in the quarto, in the back or fold of
the book; in the 8vo, at the upper and inner corner. At the present
day, however, printing paper is seldom made with water-lines or
water-marks.
In examining a book, all these means of determining its fold
occasionally deceive the most skilful bibliographer. If sheets of paper
had, from the first, been always made of the same size, there would be
comparatively little difficulty. But they have always varied so much,
that a very small 8vo is often in no way distinguishable, in
dimensions, from a large 16mo. Many other sizes also are liable to be
confounded.
The following measurements, in inches, of a leaf of folio, octavo, and
16mo, of foolscap, medium, and imperial paper, will show how impossible
it would be, from the size of the book to determine the fold of the
sheet, even of paper of what are called the regular sizes, particularly
when the books have been cut down in binding:
|
Folio, |
Octavo, |
16mo. |
| Foolscap, |
13¼ |
× |
8⅜, |
6⅝ |
× |
4¼, |
4¼ |
× |
3⅜, |
| Medium, |
18¼ |
× |
11½, |
9⅛ |
× |
5¾, |
5¾ |
× |
4½, |
| Imperial, |
21⅞ |
× |
15, |
11 |
× |
7½, |
7½ |
× |
5½, |
|
Folio, |
Octavo, |
16mo. |
| Foolscap, |
13 1/4 |
× |
8 3/8, |
6 5/8 |
× |
4 1/4, |
4 1/4 |
× |
3 3/8, |
| Medium, |
18 1/4 |
× |
11 1/2, |
9 1/8 |
× |
5 3/4, |
5 3/4 |
× |
4 1/2, |
| Imperial, |
21 7/8 |
× |
15, |
11 |
× |
7 1/2, |
7 1/2 |
× |
5 1/2, |
Since the introduction of machine paper and large presses, paper is
made of almost any and every size and shape, and it is no longer
possible to distinguish, with accuracy, the different folds. Books,
which, judged by the eye, would be supposed to be quartos, are, in
reality, duodecimos; books which might be supposed to be octavos, are
16mos, &c. The signatures, as we have seen, will not inform us
whether a book is an 8vo, or a 16mo on half sheets. There are no
water-marks to help us; nor is it possible in any way to tell.
If it be thus difficult, and often impossible, to ascertain the fold
with the book before us, of what use can it be, as a designation of
size, to those who have only the description? This is a difficulty
which has but commenced. It is becoming more serious every year. It is
more serious in America, than in other countries, for in Europe, there
is much more regularity in the sizes of paper than here.
On these accounts, it has been thought desirable, if not
indispensable, to introduce some new method of designating the size of
books. The measurement of the printed page has seemed the readiest and
most useful. The trouble of measuring is much less than might, at first
sight, be supposed, and the time occupied by it is hardly worthy of
consideration.
It would be, for all purposes of bibliography, better to make this the
universal method of designating the size of books. It would save
numberless blunders and frequent perplexity; and, upon the whole, would
take less of the librarian's time, than the ordinary process of
ascertaining the fold, provided that be done with exactness.
XI. In books of one volume, the body
of which does not contain more than one hundred pages, the number of
pages is to be specified. In applying this rule, copy the number of
the last page of the body of the book, or of any addition paged
continuously with it.
Remark 1. The value of catalogues would,
doubtless, be enhanced by giving the number of pages in every volume,
after the manner of Dryander in the Catalogue of Sir Joseph Banks's
library; or with even greater particularity, thus: pp.
xxvi+345+xlv, meaning 26 pages of
prefatory matter, 345 pages in the body of the book, and 45 pages of
appendix. But the disproportionate amount of additional labor, as well
as of increase in the bulk and cost of catalogues, which such
enumeration and notation would demand, renders it necessary to limit the
object of this rule, which is to show whether the work described be
merely of pamphlet size.
Remark 2. Prefatory matter is not to be
included in the enumeration of pages. But if it be something more than
a preface or introduction by the author, and deemed of sufficient
importance to be added to the title, the number of pages of such
prefatory matter should be included in the addition.
XII. All additions to the titles are
to be printed in italics, and between brackets; to be in the English
language, whatever be the language of the title; to be such only as
are applicable to all copies of the edition described, and necessary
for a full titular description of the book.
Exception. When parts of a name are supplied
within brackets, they are to be in the vernacular of the author,
whatever be the language of the title; and, if the name be used for the
heading, the part supplied in the title is to correspond in typography
with the rest of the name; that is, to be printed in small
capitals.
Remark 1. It is not always easy to say what
additions are necessary, to render a title satisfactorily descriptive.
A title is often a mere name, arbitrarily chosen by the author. It is
sometimes allegorical, or embodies, in a pun, or conceit, or covert
allusion, some indication of the subject-matter of the book. In such
cases, it was not designed to be descriptive of the work, and could not
be made so, without destroying its character. Explanations of such
titles may be thought desirable; but if so, they should be given in
notes, and separate from the titles themselves. A title should be the
briefest possible designation of the contents of a book. It should
cover everything which the book contains, but in the most general
terms, without minute specifications. Mindful of this definition, we
shall frequently find cases, where the title, intended to be
descriptive, fails to give us what we have a right to expect. A book
may be in a different language from the title-page. It may be in
several languages, while the title indicates but one. It may contain an
important Preface, Introduction, or Biography of the author, by another
hand, not mentioned in the title. In these, and in many other cases,
additions to the titles may be necessary.
Remark 2. There are many cases, however,
where it seems desirable to give further information concerning a work,
than could be given within the title, under the restrictions of the
preceding paragraph. The title may be a misnomer, or it may contain
allusions, which it is desirable to explain. The book may be a rare and
valuable
one, with maps and illustrations, the number and description of which
ought to be given. It may have been privately printed, or limited to a
small number of copies, or prohibited, or condemned to be burnt. The
edition may be the Editio princeps, or a
fac-simile of an early edition, or a surreptitious or spurious edition;
or it may be identical, except in the title, with what purports to be
another edition, or an independent work. These facts belong, more
properly, to a bibliographical dictionary, than to a catalogue. It is
proper, however, that they should be noted by cataloguers. They may,
also, be printed, at the discretion of the superintendent, but
generally, in the form of separate notes, rather than as additions to
the titles.
Remark 3. Peculiarities of copies, such as
large paper, satin paper, vellum; also notes, autographs, cancelled
leaves, substituted leaves, mutilations and alterations; binding in a
different number of volumes from that indicated in the title, or
ascertained by the rule already given, &c. &c.,—these, and
other peculiarities or imperfections of copy, relate only to particular
copies, and therefore should not be noticed in a title intended to
apply to the whole edition. Every cataloguer should, however, note
every such thing, after the title. The note may be printed in the
catalogue of the library containing the book described, but not,
usually, in the title for the General Catalogue.
XIII. When the title has been
transcribed in accordance with the foregoing rules, the heading is to
be written above it.
This heading determines the place of the title in the alphabetical
catalogue, and consists, in general, of the name of the author in its
vernacular form,
when the same can be represented by the letters of the English
alphabet.
When the word cannot be exactly represented by English letters, the
form used by the best English authorities is to be adopted.
The surname is to be printed in capitals. Christian or first names
are to follow, if possible in full, printed in small capitals, and
within parentheses.
XIV. When a name is variously
spelled, the best authorized orthography is to be selected for the
heading, and such other modes of spelling the name, as are likely to
occasion difficulty, are to be added, within brackets.
Cross references are to be made from all other forms of the name,
which occur in the catalogue, to the form preferred.
XV. The following rules are to be
observed in cataloguing names with prefixes:
(1.) If the name has become an English surname, it is to be recorded
under the prefix, which is to be accounted as a part of the name.
Thus: D'Israeli, De Morgan, De la
Beche, Du Ponceau are to be placed under
D; Van Buren under V.
In such cases, cross-references are to be made from the principal
name.
Names beginning with Mac, O',
Ap, and Fitz, are to be recorded under those
syllables.
Mc, and M', abbreviated forms of
Mac, are to be considered the same as if written in
full.
(2.) French surnames preceded by the preposition de are
to be catalogued under the name itself, and not under the prefix.
Thus: Florian (Jean Pierre Claris de) is to be placed
under F, not under D; Alembert (Jean le
Rond d') under A, not under D.
In this respect, usage is by no means uniform among French authors.
Thus, Brunet places D'Alembert under D, while
Quérard, the Editors of the "Biographie Universelle," etc., place the
same name under A. But consistency is of the first
importance, and it is decidedly best to make this rule positive, and
without exceptions.
(3.) French surnames preceded by De la, are to be
recorded under the article.
Thus: La Pérouse (Jean François Galaup de), not
De la Pérouse, nor Pérouse; La Harpe
(Jean François de), not De la Harpe, nor
Harpe.
It is better to make this the invariable rule, although uniformity
will not be found among French writers, in this particular, nor
scarcely consistency in any one writer.
(4.) French names preceded by Du or Des
are to be recorded under these prefixes.
Thus: Du Halde, under D, not under
H; Des Cartes, under D, not
under C.
(5.) French names, preceded by the article Le,
La, L', are to be recorded under
L.
Thus: Le Long (Jacques), not Long (Jacques
le); L'Héritier (Marie Jeanne), not
Héritier (Marie Jeanne l').
(6.) Names with similar prefixes in other languages, are, in all
cases, to be recorded under the word following the prefix, with
cross-references.
Thus: Delle Valle, under V; Della
Santa, under S; Da Cunha under
C. So Buch (Léopold von); Recke (Elisa
von der); Dyck (Anton Van); Praet (Joseph
Basile Bernard Van); Hooght (Everard van der);
Ess (Leander van).
XVI. Compound surnames, except Dutch
and English, are to be entered under the initial of the first name.
In Dutch and in English compound names, the last name is to be
preferred.
Thus, in French, such names as Etienne
Geoffroy-Saint-Hilaire, Isidore
Geoffroy-Saint-Hilaire, should be written
Geoffroy-Saint-Hilaire (Etienne),
Geoffroy-Saint-Hilaire (Isidore). So in Spanish,
Calderon de la Barca, and Calderon y
Belgrano, should both be entered under C. But
François de Salignac de Lamotte Fénélon, is universally
placed under Fénélon, even by those who generally adhere
to the above rule. There are other names, which must be considered
exceptions, respecting which it seems impossible to give any invariable
rule, but all difficulty must be removed by cross-references.
XVII. Works of an author who may
have changed his name, or added others to it, are to be recorded
under the last name, (if used in any of his publications,) with
cross-references from the other names. Names that may have been
altered by being used in different languages, are to be entered under
their original vernacular form. But if an author has never used the
vernacular form of his name in his publications, his works are to be
recorded under such other form as he may have employed.
Remark 1. Thus, Alexander Slidell
Mackenzie should be placed under Mackenzie, with a
cross-reference from Slidell. His family name was
Slidell, but after becoming known as a writer, he assumed
the name Mackenzie.
François Marie Aroüet de Voltaire, under
Voltaire; because Voltaire is a name assumed
as a surname. It is not a title, nor commonly considered part of a
compound surname.
Jean Baptiste Poquelin Molière, under
Molière. His father's name was Poquelin but
he added, himself, the name Molière, as
Aroüet did that of Voltaire.
The family name of an individual is to be considered that which he
has, or adopts, for himself and his descendants, rather than that which
he received from his ancestors,—his family name, not his
father's. Now if a man's name have been changed, by his own act,
the name assumed is supposed to be that by which he wishes to be known
to his contemporaries, and which he wishes to transmit to posterity. A
married woman generally drops her maiden name, and assumes that of her
husband. By this, therefore, she should ever after be known. If she
published books under her maiden name, and afterwards under her married
name, they should all be recorded under her married name, with a
cross-reference from the former. It may be that she published only
under her maiden name; in this case, her works should be entered under
that name, followed by her married name, included within
parentheses.
Remark 2. Such changes as are referred to
under this rule may generally be indicated by the mode of printing,
thus:
MACKENZIE (Alexander SLIDELL).
VOLTAIRE (François Marie AROÜET
de).
DACIER (Mad.
Anne LEFÈVRE).
XVIII. The following classes of
persons are to be entered under their first names, or their Christian
names:
(1.) Sovereigns, and Princes of sovereign houses.
(2.) Jewish Rabbis, and Oriental writers in general.
(3.) Persons canonized. The family name, when known, is to be added
within brackets.
(4.) Friars, who, by the constitution of their order, drop their
surnames. But the family name, when known, should be added within
brackets.
(5.) All other persons known only by their first names, to
which, for the sake of distinction, they add those of their native
places, profession, rank, &c., as, Adamus Bremensis,
or Adam of Bremen.
A cross-reference should be made from any other name by which the
author may be known, to that used as the heading.
XIX. Surnames of Noblemen and
Dignitaries, with the exception of cases coming under the preceding
rule, are to be ascertained, when not expressed, and to be used for
the heading, although the person may be better known by his title,
than by his name. But, in all cases where doubt would be likely to
arise, cross-references should be used.
Remark. Thus, Home (Henry), Lord
Kames. There should be a cross-reference; thus, Kames
(Lord). See Home (Henry). Stanhope (Philip Dormer), Earl
of Chesterfield.
This last is one of the cases which might lead us to doubt the
propriety of the rule. This author is universally known as
Chesterfield, not as Stanhope. But there are
other authors, who are as well known by their family names as by their
titles; while the greater portion are known by their family names, much
better than by their titles. A general rule is absolutely necessary,
and this is thought to be the best.
XX. If it appear upon the title-page,
that the work is the joint production of several writers, it is to be
entered under the first named, with cross-references from the names
of the others.
XXI. The complete works, or entire
treatises of several authors, published together in one series, with
a collective
title, are to be recorded in the words of the general title of the
series, and to be placed under the name, of the Editor, if known; if
that be not known, under the title of the collection, like anonymous
works. If any work in the collection be printed with a separate
title-page, and an independent paging, it is also to be recorded
under its author's name, as a distinct work, with a reference to the
volume of the collection in which it is to be found.
Cross-references may be made from names of authors, when they appear
upon the title-page, or when their works were first published in the
collection.
Explanation 1. The principle established by
this rule, decides the case, common among German books, of works
with double titles, one general and the other special. Such a work
must be entered twice, once under the general title, which should omit,
as much as possible, what is contained in the special; and once under
the special title, which should refer to the general, stating what
volume of the general collection this particular volume forms.
Explanation 2. This rule applies to
periodical publications, which should be entered under the
name of the Editor, if this appears upon the title-page, with a
cross-reference from the name of the publication. But if the
publication be issued under the direction of an association, it comes
under the next rule, and is to be recorded under the name of the
association, with a cross-reference from the editor's name.
Remark. The catalogue, thus formed, will be
composed of works, having each a distinct title-page and an independent
pagination. Doubtless, greater convenience and usefulness might be
attained by adopting a more comprehensive plan;—one, by which every
distinct article in Transactions of Learned Societies, in Magazines,
Reviews, and similar works, where, by the rule of the publication,
the authors of the treatises are named,—should be separately entered,
as if it were a book. Such an attempt is, however, at present,
unadvisable. Should it, hereafter, be thought practicable to extend the
rule, none of the titles which have been prepared, under this rule,
will be superfluous, and none will have to be altered. It is hoped,
that, within a few years, such progress may be made in the General
Catalogue, as to justify the attempt at greater minuteness of
registration.
XXII. Academies, institutes,
associations, universities, colleges; literary, scientific,
economical, eleemosynary and religious societies; national and
municipal governments; assemblies, conventions, boards, corporations,
and other bodies of men, under whatever name, and of whatever
character, issuing publications, whether as separate works, or in a
continuous series, under a general title, are to be considered and
treated as the authors of all works issued by them, and in their name
alone. The heading is to be the name of the body, the principal word
to be the first word, not an article. A cross-reference is to be made
from any important substantive or adjective, to the principal
word.
Explanation 1. If the name of the author
appears upon the title-page of a work having a distinct title-page and
paging, published by such a body, the work then comes under Rule XXI. It must be recorded twice; once under
the general title, according to the above rule, and again under the
name of the author, referring, if it be published in a series, to the
volume of the series in which it is contained.
Explanation 2. Catalogues of public
libraries are to be entered under the name of the establishment; and if
the name of the compiler appears upon the title-page, a cross-reference
should be made from it to the principal entry.
Explanation 3. When committees, or branches
of a body, issue publications, the heading is to be the name of the
chief, and not of the subordinate body. Thus, under United
States, would be placed all public documents issued at the
expense of the United States, whether as regular Public Documents, or
by particular Departments, Bureaus, or Committees. Such titles, when
they become numerous, may be classed, and conveniently arranged in the
catalogue.
On the same principle, the publications of literary and other
societies connected with colleges and universities are to be catalogued
under the names of the colleges, &c., with cross-references from
the names of the societies.
Explanation 4. Under this rule, Liturgies,
Prayer-Books, Breviaries, Missals, &c., are to be placed under the
English name of the communion, religious order or denomination, under
whose authority they are prepared and published. Similar works by
individuals, are to be placed under their names.
XXIII. Translations are to be
entered under the heading of the original work, with a
cross-reference from the name of the translator. If the name of the
translator be known, and that of the author unknown, the book is to
be entered, like other anonymous works, under the first word of the
original title, not an article or preposition, whether the original
be or be not in the library to be catalogued.
When the title of the original cannot be ascertained, or cannot be
expressed in English letters, the translation is to be entered as an
anonymous work, that is, under the first word of its title, not an
article or preposition.
XXIV. Commentaries accompanied by
the whole Text, are to be entered under the heading of the original
work, with a cross-reference from the name of the commentator. If not
accompanied by the Text, they are to be entered under the name of the
commentator, with a cross-reference from the name of the author.
XXV. The Bible, or any part of it, in
any language, is to be entered under the word "Bible."
Cross-references should be made from the names of the writers, as
well as from the names of the several parts of the Bible. Both of
these classes of names are to be expressed in the form adopted in the
authorized English version.
XXVI. Reports of Trials are to be
recorded under the name of the Reporter; or if this be not known,
under the first word of the Title. There should also be
cross-references, from the names of the plaintiff and of the
defendant in a civil suit, and from that of the defendant in a
criminal suit.
XXVII. The Respondent or defender
in a thesis, is to be considered its author, except when it
unequivocally appears to be the work of the Præses.
XXVIII. Pseudonymous works are to
be entered under the assumed name, followed by pseud.;
after which may be given the name of the supposed or reputed author,
with (in case of doubt) the word probably before it, or
? after it.
But if the author have published any edition, continuation,
or supplement under his name, the work is not to be considered
pseudonymous. In such case, a cross-reference should be made from the
feigned name.
Explanation 1. Under pseudonyms are to be
included not only fictitious names, such as Geoffrey Crayon,
Gent., assumed by Washington Irving, and abbreviated names, as
A. L. Mil., for A. L. Millin; but also names
concealed in an anagram, as Nides, for Denis;
or formed from the initials of the real name, as Talvi,
for Theresa Adolfina Louisa Von Jacob, and all words used
fictitiously as proper names of authors.
Explanation 2. Works falsely attributed, in
their titles, to particular persons, are also to be treated as
pseudonymous, and entered under the names of the pretended authors,
with such notes as may be necessary to prevent mistake; unless some
edition has been published under the name of the real author.
Explanation 3. Works published with
initials, are to be entered under the full name of the author,
if he be known to have published any edition with his name; otherwise,
under the last initial, which is to be supposed to stand for
the surname, and the other letter or letters for Christian names. But
if the last letter be known to stand for a title, it is not to be used
for the heading.
XXIX. Anonymous works are to be
entered under the first word of the title, not an article or
preposition. Cross-references may be made from all words, in the
title, under which such a work would be likely to be sought for, in
an alphabetical catalogue.
But if the author have published any edition, continuation, or
supplement under his name, the work is not to be considered
anonymous.
Exception 1. An anonymous biography or
personal narrative is to be entered under the name of the person, whose
life or adventures
form the subject of the book, if the name appears upon the title-page.
But such works should in all cases be designated as anonymous.
Exception 2. An anonymous continuation,
supplement, appendix or index is to be entered under the heading of the
original work.
Explanation 1. A book is not to be
considered anonymous, when the name of the author is given in any part
of it, or expressed by any distinctive description. In such case, the
name of the author is to be inserted in the title, within brackets, and
is to be used as the heading.
Explanation 2. If it be known that the book
has been attributed to a certain person, his name may be
inserted in the title, within brackets, with such explanation as shall
prevent mistake; and a cross-reference may be made from the name of the
reputed author.
Explanation 3. Works in which the author is
described by some circumlocution, which does not serve to identify him,
are to be considered anonymous.
Remark. This rule will secure uniformity. It
will relieve librarians from an almost incalculable amount of labor,
perplexity and dissatisfaction. It will relieve readers from every
inconvenience, except that of sometimes being obliged to look in two
places for the book. On these accounts, a simple, arbitrary rule is the
only one that can safely be adopted. Any rule for selecting the most
prominent word of a title, or for entering a book under the name of its
subject, would be found fatal to uniformity; it would greatly increase
the trouble of making a catalogue; it would not render the catalogue
more convenient for readers, but, in the main, much less so. The only
objections to the proposed rule are, that it brings many titles under
words of little significance, as a "Brief Survey", a
"Succinct Narrative", &c., and that it brings many
titles together, under such words as "Essay", "History", "Narrative",
&c. These objections have been fully considered, and the rule is
given with the settled conviction that the inconveniences alluded to
are much less than those which would result from any other rule or set
of rules, which have been proposed, or can be devised.
XXX. Cross-references,—consisting
of only the word from which reference is made, the word
See, and the name or heading referred to,—are to be
made in the following instances:
(1.) From other forms of a name, than the one adopted in the
heading.
(2.) From any name used by an author, or by which he may be
generally known, other than the one used for the heading.
(3.) From important words in the name of any collective body, used
as a heading, under Rule XXII.
(4.) From names of subordinate bodies, when a work is entered under
the name of the principal body, under Rule
XXII.
(5.) From the name of a supposed author of a pseudonymous work.
(6.) From titles, or designations of office, or dignity, when used
upon title-pages, instead of surnames.
(7.) From the family names of persons, whose works are entered under
the Christian, or first names; except sovereigns, or princes
belonging to sovereign houses.
(8.) From the names of the several parts of the Bible, and of the
writers of them.
(9.) From former titles of periodicals, when the publication is
catalogued under an altered title, or a new editor, according to Rule VII.
XXXI. The following classes of
cross-references, employed to prevent the necessity of entering
titles in full, more than once, are to contain so much of the title
referred to, as may be necessary to show distinctly the object of the
reference. When it would be difficult to abbreviate the title, for
this purpose, other words, not those of the title, may be used.
(1.) From the names of Translators, Editors, Commentators,
Continuators, or other persons, named on the title-page, (or added to
the title, on the principle of Rule XII.), as
participating in the authorship of the work.
(2.) From the name of any person, the subject of a biography or
narrative.
(3.) From the name of an author, any whole work of whom, or some
considerable part of it, may be the subject of any commentary or
notes, without the text.
(4.) From the name of an author, whose complete works are contained
in any collection, or any considerable part of whose works have been
first published in such collection, if the name be given upon the
title-page.
(5.) From any word, in the title of an anonymous work, under which
one would be likely to seek for the work in an alphabetical
catalogue.
(6.) From the name of a supposed author of an anonymous work.
(7.) From the names of the plaintiff and of the defendant, in the
report of a civil suit; and from
the name of the defendant, in that of a criminal suit.
(8.) From the name of a former editor of a periodical, when the
publication is catalogued under the name of a new editor, according
to Rule VII.
XXXII. The order of the Headings
will be determined by the plan of the catalogue, whether
alphabetical, classed, or chronological.
XXXIII. The Titles are immediately
to follow the headings; and within the divisions and sub-divisions
given below, the arrangement is to be chronological. Editions without
date, and those of which the date cannot be ascertained, even by
approximation, are to precede all those bearing date, or of which the
date can be supplied, either positively or by approximation. The
latter are to follow, according to their date, whether apparent in
any part of the book, or supplied. Editions by the same editor, or
such as are expressly stated to follow a specific text or edition,
and editions with the same notes or commentary, to succeed each
other, in their chronological order, immediately after the entry of
that which is, or is considered to be, the earliest.
XXXIV. Titles, which occur under
the name of an author, are to be arranged in the following order:
(1.) Collections of all the works.
a. Those without translations, whether with or without notes,
commentaries, lives, or other critical apparatus.
b. Those with translations.
Editions with only one translation. Those with a Latin translation
are to be placed first; next those with an English; and then those
with a translation into any other language, in the alphabetical order
of the English name of such language.
Editions with several translations into different languages. Those
are to be entered first, which have the fewest number of
translations. Among those having the same number of translations, the
alphabetical order of the first of the languages employed is to be
followed.
c. Translations without the text. These are to be arranged
among themselves according to the principles laid down for
translations with the text.
(2.) Partial collections, containing two or more
works. Those which contain the greatest number of works are to
precede. The arrangement of the whole is to be, in other respects,
according to the principles laid down for collections of all the
works.
(3.) Selections or collected fragments. Those from
all the works are to precede those from several works, and the whole
to be arranged according to the foregoing principles.
(4.) Separate works. These are to succeed each
other alphabetically. Entire portions of a separate work are to
follow immediately after the work itself. The different editions and
translations are to be arranged according to the foregoing
principles.
(5.) Entire portions of a separate work, when the
work itself does not occur.
XXXV. Works placed under the names
of collective bodies, (according to Rule
XXII,) are, in general, to be arranged in alphabetical order; but
works forming part of a series are not to be separated, although that
series be interrupted, or the title changed; and works published by
branches or subordinate bodies, are to be separately arranged and
placed under sub-headings, which should be printed in a distinctive
type.
XXXVI. Cross-References are to be
placed after all other entries under the heading, and in alphabetical
order of the names referred to.
XXXVII. The entries under the word
Bible, are to be arranged in the following
order; subject in other respects to the principles laid down in Rule XXXIV, except that, in each of the
following classes, editions with the text alone are to precede those
with commentaries.
(1.) The Old and New Testaments with or without the Apocrypha.
(2.) The Old Testament.
(3.) Detached parts of the Old Testament, in the same order in which
they are arranged in the English authorized version of the
Scriptures.
(4.) The New Testament.
(5.) Detached parts of the New Testament.
(6.) Apocryphal books.
XXXVIII. Maps, Charts, Engravings
and Music, (except when published in volumes,) are not to be included
in catalogues of Books. Separate catalogues of these should be
constructed upon the general principles of the preceding rules.
(1.) In cataloguing Maps and Charts, the full
title is to be given, including the names of surveyors, compilers,
engravers, publishers, &c.; date and place of publication; and
number of sheets composing the map. Each edition is to be separately
recorded, and the separate title of each sheet, when it varies from
the general title. The titles of sub-sketches are to be introduced at
the close of the main title, within brackets, and to be given in
full, including authorship, scale and size.
(2.) The scale is to be given in all cases. When not stated on the
map, it is, if possible, to be derived from it.
(3.) The size of the map, within the neat-line of the
border, is to be given in inches and tenths. When a map has no
printed border, the measure of the limits of printed surface is to be
given.
(4.) The price, if stated on the map, should be copied.
(5.) All important peculiarities of copy, such as the kind of paper,
and whether backed, folded, bound, on rollers, &c., should be
mentioned in a note.
The titles thus prepared are to be arranged under the names of the
countries, or divisions of the earth's surface delineated in the
maps; and these names are to be disposed in alphabetical order, with
the cross-references necessary to facilitate research.
(6.) Engravings are to be recorded under the
names of the engravers, with cross-references from those of the
painters or designers. The date, and the name of the publisher, if
found upon the print, should also be given. The size of the print, in
inches and tenths, should also be stated. If the copy be an artists'
artist's proof, or a
remarkably good impression of a valuable engraving, the fact should
be stated in a note.
(7.) Music is to be entered under the name of
the composer. If the work have a distinctive title, there should be a
cross-reference from that.
XXXIX. Cases not herein provided
for, and exceptional cases, requiring a departure from any of the
preceding rules, are to be decided upon by the superintendent.
