Dear Stewart,
Thank you for this reply, it’s very useful
indeed. I have only had a few replies, and, you’ll not be surprised to learn,
there’s not much consistency out there!
All the best,
Joe
From:
Sent: 25 September 2009 10:00
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Cataloguing bindings
Dear Jo
When I was
cataloguing at John’s we tended towards the higher level, although we only
applied this to books if we felt that the binding actually merited description
for some reason i.e. ornateness or interest. We ended up not recording many
standard calf bindings or vellum wrappers, as on a keyword search this would
have made retrieval of things of interest rather difficult.
If we were
describing a binding though we would include as many of the appropriate elements
in the higher level as possible (obviously dates and places could be very
difficult, but we usually had a stab at a date even if qualified with question
mark). Describing decoration can also be difficult but you might as well have a
go. The only things we’d probably not bother too much with from the list of
elements described were the description of headbands (mainly cos we weren’t too
sure what theses were) and the nature of boards, unless they were wooden.
Otherwise I remember including virtually everything else at some point.
I’ll stick a couple
of examples in below to give you an idea of the sort of things we did.
Hope this is of some
use.
Stewart
http://www.joh.cam.ac.uk/library/special_collections/early_books/pix/provenance/gbible/gbible.htm
Binding:
18th-century dark blue morocco (
http://www.joh.cam.ac.uk/library/special_collections/early_books/pix/provenance/floral/floral.htm
Binding:
15th century English (Oxford?) blind-stamped calf over wooden boards, by the
"Floral Binder" (for
stamps see Oldham's "Blind-stamped English bindings", plate 18, figs.
167, 172, 174 and 168?); remains of single book-clasp; rebacked. UkCU-JOH
http://www.joh.cam.ac.uk/library/special_collections/early_books/pix/provenance/bart/bart.htm
Binding:
15th? century German blind-stamped calf over wooden boards with the author's
name "Bartholomeus" stamped in Gothic script in the top border of the
front cover, and roll containing rose motif; impressions of 5 bosses on both
covers (4 corners, 1 central), and book clasps; of a style produced for
Koberger in Nuremberg (see Jane
Greenfield, 'ABC of bookbinding', p. 142) ; repaired and re-backed. UkCU-JOH
Binding:
In vol. with 18th century painted vellum by Edwards of Halifax, with differing
vignettes on front and back covers; gold-decorated border, spine, board edges
and inside edge; all edges gilt; with a fore-edge painting of the Old Bridge at
St John's College; preserved in slip case. UkCU-JOH
http://www.joh.cam.ac.uk/library/special_collections/early_books/pix/provenance/luther/luther.htm
Binding:
17th? century German panel-stamped pigskin over wooden boards,
with portrait of Luther on front cover and
Melanchthon on rear, also initials MHVK on front of vol.1. UkCU-JOH
From:
Sent: 24 September 2009 19:51
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Cataloguing bindings
Colleagues, virtual and otherwise:
I am interested in finding out how many of you are engaged
in describing bindings as part of the cataloguing process (if any one is
cataloguing any more!), and to what extent you describe them.
Are you following the guidelines of the CILIP Rare Books and
Special Collections Group, and if so to what degree – minimal, higher or
enhanced, as laid out in the following headings from the guidelines. Or is
anyone doing his or her own thing, and would like to share?
C.3.2: At the
recommended minimum level, the nature of the binding is briefly described. The
description should
include the following
elements:
colour
and nature of the covering material.
summary
description of decoration (for example, ‘blind-tooled’, ‘gold-tooled’).
approximate
date.
C.3.3: At the
higher level, the nature of the binding is more fully described. The
description should include the
following elements:
colour
and nature of the covering material.
nature
of boards (for example, wood, pasteboard).
description
of decoration.
approximate
date.
country
of production (or place, if known).
binder,
if determinable.
reference
is made to published sources which refer to or reproduce either the binding
being described, bindings to
which it is clearly closely related (for example, by sharing
the same tools), or particular
tools used on the binding.
Optional enhancements at this
level may include:
nature
and decoration of spine.
presence
of ties, clasps, or other furniture.
description
of headbands.
decoration
of leaf edges.
decoration
of edges of boards.
description of endleaves.
All answers gratefully received, thanks
Joe McLaughlin
University Archivist and Rare Books Curator
Room L016
Information Services - Archives
Coleraine
BT52 1NN
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