Descriptions should be kept brief, simple, and consistent in style. Descriptions should include information about: material(s), color, decoration of spine/covers/edges, approximate date, and whether or not it is a publisher's binding. Where appropriate, begin with the description "bound in" (e.g., "Bound in half blue calf and marbled boards"; "Bound in contemporary red morocco"). If an item is sewn, staple-bound, spiral-bound, laid in or otherwise not bound, a full sentence may be used (e.g., "Spiral-bound with flexible green boards"; "Spiral-bound in modern color-decorated boards"). Include descriptions for cases and containers. Publishers' bindings should also be described.
Standard terminology
original: | publisher's binding |
contemporary: | binding dates to near the time of publication |
later: | binding is not contemporary, but actual date is unclear |
modern: | do not use; instead, give the century, e.g. early 20th century; late 20th century |
recent: | do not use; instead, give the century, e.g. early 21st century |
paper covers: | refers to unbound covers to loosely wrap printed or unprinted book or pamphlet |
wrappers: | printed or illustrated paper or other flexible covers bound |
Houghton has traditionally used "half" for both quarter- and half-bindings; but as of 3/06 catalogers should describe quarter bindings as such.
Enter in a separate 563 field. Whenever possible, begin the note with "Bound in [binding description]".
Case/Container description
After the binding description, add a semi-colon and add a note about any enclosures, along with their sizes. These may have come with an item or provided locally. If the latter, chose one of the three options:
- If put in a prefab add "in prefab" + size
- If going into a CMI, add "in CMI case" (no size needed since CMI cases are measured to fit the actual item)
- If going into a cloth case, add "in cloth case" + size
Examples
563 _ _ $$a Bound in contemporary red morocco over boards, stamped in gilt; edges gilt; in red cloth case, 27 cm. $$5 hou
563 _ _ $$a Bound in contemporary red morocco over boards(rebacked), stamped in gilt; edges red; in crimson cloth case, 27 cm. $$5 hou
563 _ _ $$a Bound in original blue cloth over bevelled boards. $$5 hou
563 _ _ $$a Original printed blue wrappers; in prefab, 28 cm. $$5 hou
563 _ _ $$a Bound in blue cloth, with original printed gray paper covers bound in. $$5 hou
563 _ _ $$a Bound in elaborately gilt-tooled morocco over boards, with arms of Louis XIV on front board; in cloth case, 31 cm. $$5hou
563 _ _ $$a Vol. 1 bound in contemporary half calf and marbled over boards, spine gilt; vol. 2 bound in later crimson buckram over boards. $$5 hou
[multi-part item, variant bindings]
Binding information more closely linked to provenance may be moved in whole or in part to the 561 note:
561 _ _ $$a Bound for Thomas Hollis in brown diced calf over boards, gilt circular floral tool in center of covers (rebacked). $$5 hou [563 binding note omitted]