68. Make a first-word entry for all[29] anonymous works,[30] except
anonymous biographies, which are to be entered under the name of the
subject of the life.[31] (If the author’s name can be ascertained
insert it within brackets.)
[note] 29. Of course there are exceptions to this rule. There are
works which are always known by certain names, under which they
should be entered, although the title-pages of different editions
may not begin with this name, or may not even contain it. The most
noteworthy example is «Bible», which is the best heading—in an English
catalogue—for the Bible and for any of its parts in whatever language
written and under whatever title published.
This is the British Museum rule. It is of a piece with putting all
periodicals under the heading «Periodicals» and all publications of
learned societies under the head «Academies». It would be much more in
accordance with dictionary principles to put the separate books of the
Bible each under its own name as given in the revised {39} English
version («Matthew», Gospel of, not «Gospel» of Matthew), with all
necessary references.
Under the present rule, references should be made to «Bible» from
«Testament», «Old Testament», «New Testament», «Gospels», «Apocrypha»,
«Psalms», «Pentateuch», the names of the single books, and from such
well-known names as «Breeches» Bible, «Speaker’s» commentary.
In cataloguing the anonymous books of the Middle Ages, “Incipit” or
“Here begyns,” or “Book the first of,” and similar phrases are not
to be considered as first words. Thus the history of the Seven Sages
appears under the following variety of title:
1. Incipit historia septem sapientū Rome. [Cir. 1475.]
2. In hoc opusculo sunt subtilitates septē sapientū rome valde
p_er_utiles. [Later.]
3. Historia septem sapientum Romæ. 1490.
4. Historia calumnie nouercalis que septem sapientū inscribitur. 1490.
5. Ludus septem sapientum. [Cir. 1560.]
And the titles of the versions are equally various:
1. Li romans des sept sages.
2. Li romans de Dolopathos.
3. Les sept sages de Rom̄e.
4. Les sept saiges de romme.
5. Los siete sabios de Roma.
6. Hieuach volget ein gar schöne Cronick vn̄ hystori auss denn
Geschichten der Römern.
7. Die hystorie uan die seuen wise mannen van Romen.
8. Hystory of the seuen maysters of Rome.
9. The Hystorie of the seven wise maisters of Rome.
10. The sevin seages.
11. De siu sive mestere.
Of course it will not do to catalogue these severally under Incipit,
Hoc, Historia, Ludus, Romans, Sept, Siete, Hienach, Hystorie, Hystory,
Sevin, and Siu. In this and other prose and poetical romances of the
Middle Ages the heading must be taken in general from the subject of
the romance; the name appearing of course in the original language,
with all necessary references from other forms. In the present case
all the editions would be collected under «Septem» sapientes,[32] with
references from Ludus, Sept sages, Siete sabios, Hienach, and Seven,
provided the library has so many editions.
Somewhat similarly collections of papers known by the name of a
principal contributor or a previous owner or of the house where they
were found should be entered under such name, or, if they must be
entered under the name of an editor, should have a reference from such
name; _ex._, Dudley papers, Winthrop papers, etc.
A title like “The modern Plutarch” does not mean to imply that the
work is written by «Plutarchus»; such a book would be treated as
anonymous, unless it had an editor.[/note]
[note] 30. A catalogue of authors alone finds the entry of its
anonymous books a source of incongruity. The dictionary catalogue
has no such trouble. It does not attempt to enter them in the
author-catalogue until the author’s name is known.[/note]
[note] 31. For a smaller catalogue this may read “except anonymous
works relating to a person, city, or other subject distinctly
mentioned in the title, which are to be put under the name of the
person, city, or subject.” In the catalogue of a larger library where
more exactness (“red tape,” “pedantry”) is indispensable, biography
should be the only exception, the place of entry under subjects
and under large cities being {40} too doubtful. And in planning a
manuscript catalogue, it should be remembered that a small library may
grow into a large one, and that if the catalogue is made in the best
way at first there will be no need of alteration.
If a book’s title-page is lost, and it is impossible to ascertain what
it was from other copies or other editions, or from catalogues or
bibliographies, use the half-title or the running title, stating the
fact; if it has neither, manufacture a title, within brackets. Such an
entry will require many references.[/note]
[note] 32. Since this was in type I have come to the conclusion that
all these should be entered under «Sandabad» (Lat. «Syntipas»), the
reputed author of the original Indian romance. But the example will
still serve to show the great variety in mediæval titles, and the
inconvenience of following a strict first-word rule.[/note]
69. A single inscription by an unknown author needs no title-entry, but
should have subject-entry under the subject of which it treats, or the
name of the place where it is found, or both.
70. When the author’s name is known, it will be enough for Medium to
make not an entry under the first word, but a reference from it to the
author. The shelf-mark or class-mark should always be given with this
reference, that the man who merely wishes to get the book need not
have to look in two places for the mark. If there are several editions
all the marks should be given, which is not satisfactory unless the
imprints are also given, that is, unless an entry is made and not
merely a reference.
The entry (or reference) for an anonymous work should be made, even if
the author’s name is given in another edition.
71. An anonymous work which forms a part of a larger whole is to be
entered where the whole would be, with a reference from its own title.
_Ex._ «New» testament. _See_ «Bible».
Die «Klage». _See_ «Nibelungenlied».
72. Translations of anonymous works should be entered under the same
heading as the original, whether the library possesses the original or
not.
_Ex._ «Gisli’s» saga. Story of Gish the outlaw, from the Icelandic, by
G. W. Dasent.
So Perron’s translation, called by him “Glaive des couronnes,” would
appear under «Saif»-al-tidjan; and the Arabian nights’ entertainments
under «Alif» laila. Criticisms of anonymous works must be put under
the heading of the work criticised.
73. Periodicals are to be treated as anonymous and entered under the
first word.
_Ex._ «Popular» science monthly, «Littell’s» living age.
When a periodical changes its title the whole may be catalogued under
the original title, with an explanatory note there and a reference
from the new title to the old; or each part may be catalogued under
its own title, with references, “For a continuation, _see_ ,” “For
the previous volumes, _see_ .”
Treat almanacs and other annuals as periodicals. Do not confound
periodicals with serials. The four characteristics of a periodical
are: (1) that it be published at intervals usually but not necessarily
regular; (2) in general that the publication be intended to continue
indefinitely; (3) that it be written by a number of contributors
under the supervision of one or more editors; (4) that it consist of
articles on various subjects, so that a set of the work does not form
an organic whole. The 2d, 3d, and 4th criteria exclude works like
Trollope’s “The way we live now,” and the “Encyclopædia Britannica.”
There are some exceptions to the 3d, as “Brownson’s quarterly review.”
{41}
Make a reference from the name of the editor when the periodical is
commonly called by his name, as in the case of «Silliman’s» Journal of
science.
The Memoirs, Proceedings, Transactions of a society are periodicals
in point of (1) occasional publication, (2) indefinite continuance,
and—so far as they contain anything beyond the record of the
society’s meetings—of (4) variety of subject; but they lack the
3d characteristic, variety of authorship, inasmuch as the memoirs
or other papers given in addition to “proceedings” proper may be
considered as the work of the society acting through its members; the
society, therefore, is the author, and the Transactions, etc., need
not have title-entry. There are, however, some “Journals” published by
or “under the auspices of” societies which are really periodicals, and
should be so treated in entry, the society being not the author but
the editor. Again, there are works which occupy a borderland between
the two classes, in regard to which the puzzled cataloguer should
remember that it is not of much importance which way he decides,
provided he is careful to make all necessary references. Examples
of such doubtful cases are “Alpine journal: a record of mountain
adventure and scientific observation. By members of the Alpine Club;”
which contains nothing of or about the Club itself;—“Journal of the
American Institute, a monthly publication devoted to the interest
of agriculture, commerce, etc. Edited by a committee, members of
the Institute,” and “Journal of the Society of Arts and of The
Institutions in Union,” both of which are journals both in the sense
of record of proceedings and of periodical publication.
Newspaper titles are troublesome. It is not uncommon for the name of
the place to be included in the name on the first page (as The Boston
Ægis), but to be dropped over the editorial column, or vice versa, or
to be used for some years and afterwards dropped, or vice versa. The
searcher can not always remember whether it is used or not. It would
be well, therefore, to give under each name of a city the title of
every newspaper published there which the library has.
74. Collections of extracts from a periodical should go under the name
of the periodical.
_Ex._ «Life», Verses from.
«Punch», A bowl of.
75. Make a first-word entry or reference for all works of prose
fiction. (Include the author’s name in the entry.)
_Ex._ «Daughter» of Heth; novel, by W. Black. London, 1874. 3 v. O.
The reason is that novels are known more by their titles than by their
authors’ names. Whether to make an entry or a reference depends on
the space at command. An entry means giving the book-marks for every
edition. With a reference this may be done; but a reference without
them obliges the reader to turn to the author-entry for such details,
which is objectionable. It is better to give all the book-marks with
the title.
If the name of the hero or heroine enters into the title the entry
should be made under that; _ex._, «David» Copperfield, Life and
adventures of, by C. Dickens.
76. When a title begins with an article, the heading of a first-word
entry or reference is the word following the article.
_Ex._ «Centaur», The, not fabulous, _not_ «The» centaur not fabulous.
The entry has commonly been made under the first word “not an
article or preposition.” But it is found to work badly to except the
preposition in the titles of novels and plays, and it is awkward
to omit or transpose it in any case. One reason for excepting the
article—that there would be an immense accumulation of titles under
the unimportant words A, The, Le, Der, Uno, etc.—is not so strong in
the case of prepositions; the other—that it is difficult to remember
with what article a given title begins—hardly applies at all to
prepositions. The preposition is full as likely to fasten itself in
the {42} memory as the word that follows it. The strongest argument
in favor of confining preposition-entry to fiction and the drama is
that in other cases the word following the preposition will probably
be a subject-word, so that one entry will do the work of two. This
will occasionally be true, but not often enough, I think, to make much
difference.
77. When a foreign phrase is used as an English title, refer from the
article as well as from the following word.
_Ex._ «El Fureidis» should have references to «Cummins» both under «E»
and «F»; «L’arratiata» both under «L’» and «A» to «Heyse».
78. When a title begins with a word expressive of the number which the
work holds in a series the first-word entry or reference is to be made
under the next word.
_Ex._ «Collection» of papers, 8th, _not_ «Eighth» collection.
«Letter», 1st and 2d, to the Ministry, _not_ «First» letter, etc.,
under «F», and «Second» letter under «S». When the numeral comes
after a word like Book or Part (as frequently in Latin after Liber,
Pars, Tomus, Volumen) both are to be neglected and the word following
put into the nominative and used as a heading; _e. g._, “Pars prima
epistolarum” is to be entered under «Epistolæ». Similarly Evening,
Morning, Daily, and Weekly should be disregarded in titles of
newspapers, otherwise we should have the morning edition at one end
of the catalogue and the evening at the other. So “Appendix to,”
“Continuation of” “Supplement to” (but not “Reply to”), are to be
disregarded when they are followed by the title of the work continued.
“Reply to” and similar beginnings are to be put under «Reply», etc.,
with a subject-entry under the author of the work replied to.
79. When the first word of a title is spelled unusually, all the
editions should be entered under the word spelled in the modern or
correct way, with a reference from the form adopted in the title.
_Ex._ The hystorie of the saints would be entered—
«History.]» The hystorie of the saints.
We enter under the common spelling (1) in order to get all editions of
a work together, (2) because the reader can not be expected to know
exactly how the word is misspelled in the title, and will generally
look first under the correct spelling.
Of two spellings equally correct, choose one and refer from the other.
80. When the first word of a title is in an oblique case, use the
nominative as a heading.
_Ex._ Put Monumentorum antiquae sculpturae quae supersunt under
«Monumenta».
81. If the title has various forms, refer from any that differ enough
to affect the alphabetical order.
See the example in § 68.
82. Modern anonymous works whose titles are changed in different
editions may be entered under the first, with a reference under the
later; but the most satisfactory method is to enter in full in both
places.
83. Anonymous works that change their titles in successive volumes are
to be entered under the first title, with a reference from the later,
unless the greater part of the work has the later title, or the whole
is much better known by the later title, in which case entry should be
made under that. {43}
84. Make a first-word reference to the author for all plays, and for
poems of some length or importance or notoriety.
_Ex._ «All’s» well that ends well. _See_ «Shakespeare», W.
«Nothing» to wear. _See_ «Butler», W. A.
Of course entries are better than references for the reader; the
latter are recommended here merely for economy, which will be found
to be considerable when there are many editions of a play. It is much
better to distribute these like any other title-references, through
the alphabet, than, as some have done, to collect the titles of novels
together in one place and of plays in another. A man not unfrequently
wishes to find a book whose title he has heard of without learning
whether it was a novel, a play, a poem, or a book of travels.
If the catch-word of the title of a novel, poem, or play is the
name of a real person who is its subject, it is optional to make a
reference, as in § 86, or a biographical entry under the family name,
or both.
_Ex._ «Paul» Revere’s ride. _See_ «Longfellow», H. W.
_or_ «Revere», Paul. LONGFELLOW, H. W. (_In his_ Tales of a way-side
inn.)
85. Make a first-word reference to the author for other works which are
likely to be inquired for under the first word of the title, whether
because the author-entry of the work is not obvious from the title,[33]
because the title does not indicate the subject,[34] or because it is
of a striking form,[35] or because the book is commonly known by its
title,[36] or for any other good reason.
[note] 33. «Codex» Sinaiticus; ed. Tischendorf (entered under
«Bible»).[/note]
[note] 34. Cuppé’s “Heaven open to all men” needs a _title_-reference,
because for its _subject_ it would be put under «Universal salvation»
or «Future punishment, Duration of». Hutton’s “Plays and players” is
merely an account of the New York stage. Keary’s “Nations around” does
not suggest any subject at all.[/note]
[note] 35. Border and bastille.[/note]
[note] 36. Divina commedia.[/note]
In a majority of cases, when a subject-word entry is made, no
first-word reference is needed; but, if the title is striking, there
should be a first-word reference, or a reference from that part of
the title which is striking. Title-references should not generally be
made from certain common titles, as “«Sermons» on various subjects,”
“«Essays», historical and literary,” and should be made from less
common collective words, as “«Century» of painters,” “«Century» of
praise,” etc. References should be liberally made to the works of
such authors as Brown, Jones, Schmidt, Smith, Wilson; if one has
forgotten the Christian name, it is a work of too much time to find
the book under the author, and one looks at once for a subject- or a
title-entry or reference. And a reference will facilitate the finding
of many collections entered properly under the editor; for it is easy
to forget an editor’s name, and often difficult to determine the
subject-entry of a collection.
To sum up, then, make a title-reference when the author’s name is
common, the title memorable, or the subject obscure.