Standard terminology for catalog notes

This article gives examples of standard ways that notes are worded in Folger catalog records. Keep in mind that notes employ natural language, and as such, the wording will vary as needed to convey the information clearly and concisely. More technical information for catalogers is available at MARC 500 General Note.

What kind of information should go in a general note locally (i.e., in the Folger Catalog, but not Worldcat)?

Information that explains why an item was added to the Folger collection, if not immediately clear, such as its relevance to early modern studies or its Shakespearean themes. (This kind of note is mostly used for films, which we may have acquired for a particular scene that is not immediately obvious to the cataloger. For instance, the 1946 Western My darling Clementine features a travelling theater troupe who stage a performance of Hamlet in Tombstone; it isn't relevant to the broader plot and therefore should not be included in the master record, but is of use to the Folger community.)

What kind of information should not go in a general note?

Information that only applies to the Folger copy, i.e. copy-specific information, should be added as a local note. See MARC 590 Local Note, 852 ǂz for further information.

This page will be built gradually as different kinds of notes are encountered in the course of cataloging.

Anonymity and attribution

Published anonymously; author unknown.

Published anonymously; by [...].

Published anonymously; attributed to [...]

L.B.P. is Luke Beaulieu.

Dedication signed: I.S. [i.e., John Stow].

The translator, '[initials as given on resource]' has not been identified.

Edition and bibliographic history

Both Wing and ESTC treat this work and the "New Atlantis" as separate editions, but the "impressa" clearly indicates that they were issued together. See Gibson, 214.

Variant states of the title page include "London" misspelt as "Dondon," ’T’ in "The manner" apparently dropped down to form "he manner" and "THis dangerous." Wing gives them separate entries. 

Two different editions are known. Distinguishing point of the edition described here: A1r catchword is 'and'. In the other edition (ESTC S102079), A1r catchword is 'worke,'. STC does not distinguish between the editions.

Publication

"MD" in publication date in apostrophic form.

Publication date from colophon, which reads in full: Imprinted at London in Fletestreate, neare vnto Saint Dunstones Churche by Thomas Marsche. An. 1573. Cum priuilegio Regiae Maiestatis.

"Cum priuilegio"--Title page.