Signature statements

This article reproduces an edited excerpt of Descriptive Cataloging of Rare Materials (Books) (usually referred to as DCRM(B)) concerning signature statements in catalog records, along with (eventually) notes and observations on Folger practice.

DCRM(B) on signatures

7B9. Signatures

7B9.1. General rule. Make a note giving details of the signatures of a volume, if considered important. Give these signature details according to the formula in Philip Gaskell's A New Introduction to Bibliography (see p. 328-332), as limited by standard MARC character sets. Preface this note with the word “Signatures” and a colon.

Signatures: [A]⁴ B-C⁴ D² E-G⁴ H²

Signatures: A-C⁴ D⁴(-D3) E-F⁴

Signatures: A-2Z⁸, ²A-M⁸

Signatures: [1-6⁸]

(Comment: Volume is completely unsigned)

It is generally desirable to give signatures for incunabula, especially if identical signatures are not given in a standard bibliographic source. It is also desirable to provide signatures when a volume has no pagination or foliation.

7B9.2. Unavailable characters. If the gatherings are signed with a mark of contraction (see 0G8.2, Appendix G3) that cannot be reproduced using available typographical facilities, substitute the spelled out form and enclose it in square brackets.

Signatures: )(⁸ a-z⁸ &⁸ [con]⁸ [rum]⁸

If the gatherings are signed with other unavailable characters, substitute a descriptive term or an abbreviation for that term if a standard one exists.

7B9.3. Special uses of pi and chi. Indicate unsigned leaves that fall outside the signature sequence (see Gaskell, p. 330) by using the words pi and chi. Do not enclose the words in square brackets. Do not use the Greek characters π and χ, as these will give the impression that the leaves have actually been signed with Greek letters (see 7B9.9).

Signatures: pi⁴ A-C⁴ chi² D-Z⁴

Indicate partial duplications of an alphabet (see Gaskell, p. 331) by using “[superscript pi]” and “[superscript chi].”

Signatures: [superscript pi]A⁴ A-D⁴ [superscript chi]D⁴ E-F⁴

7B9.4. Non-conventional Latin alphabet. If the gatherings are signed with roman letters according to a pattern other than the conventional 23-letter Latin alphabet (i.e., A-Z, less I or J, U or V, and W; common with American printers), make this explicit by separately recording the additional signatures in the signature statement.

Signatures: A-V⁴ W⁴ X-Z⁴

(Comment: Printer used a standard Latin alphabet with the addition of W)

Signatures: A-I⁸ J⁸ K-U⁸ V⁸ W⁸ X-2I⁸ 2J⁸ 2K-2M⁸

(Comment: Printer used a full 26-letter alphabet)

7B9.5. Signatures do not match gatherings. If it can be determined that the signing of the volume does not match its actual gatherings, indicate this in the note.

Signatures: [1]⁸ 2-3⁸; volume actually gathered in twelves

7B9.6. Concurrent signatures. If the volume is signed using two concurrent sequences, provide both sets of signatures in the note. Give the signatures that correspond to the actual gatherings first, if this can be determined.

Signatures: 1-12¹²; also signed A-S⁸

Signatures: 1-12¹² and A-S⁸; actual gatherings cannot be determined

Folger practice

• Provide signature statements for all books of the hand-press era. Rare exceptions may be made when the resource's signatures vis-à-vis pagination are so erratic or complex as to prohibit completion of description within a reasonable time frame.
• Provide signature statements for machine-press books, when present and described according to DCRM(B).
• Provide full statements of extent and signature statements in notes for individual volumes of multi-volume sets.
• Make sure the count of pages or leaves according to statement of extent (300$a) equals the count of pages or leaves according to the signature statement.
• Record signature statements in the MARC 500 field. Preface signature statements with "Signatures" and a colon. Example:

500  Signatures: A-2C⁸.