Collation Formula

Umbrella article: Collation

A simple collation formula consists, in theory, of a series of quire signatures and an indication of the number of leaves in these gatherings.

Example
A works consist of 4 gatherings, signed as A, B, C and D. Each gathering consists of 4 leaves, numbered as A, A2, A3, A4, and so on. The formula then becomes A-D⁴ (to be read as 'A through D in four').

In theory, the collation formula is constructed according to the rules of Bowers (Principles, p. 196-254 and 457-461). A shorter overview can be found in Gaskell (A new introduction, p. 328-331) and Pearce (Workbook, p. 73-92). In practice, however, Bowers' rules are not followed to the smallest detail: when the collation formula becomes too cluttered or complex, it is simplified (Laufer, Introduction, p. 129).

→ Philipp Gaskell. A new introduction to bibliography. New Castle (Del.), 1995
→ M. J. Pearce. A workbook of analytical and descriptive bibliography. London, 1970
→ Roger Laufer. Introduction à la textologie: vérification, établissement, édition des textes. Paris, 1972

STCV furthermore deviates on a few points from the rules mentioned above, specifically concerning cancels and the representation of additions. The general principle is that all parts of a book are named in such a way, that they are unambiguously recognisable in the collation formula and that they can unambiguously be referred to in the notes and the cataloguing remarks.

1 Quire signatures

The formulas are based on the quire signatures used in the book. For these, the Latin alphabet was used with 23 letters:

A B C D E F G H I

K L M N O P Q R S T V

X Y Z

So there is no distinction between I and J and between U and V. In the case of W, this is a double U or V and was, normally, not used separately. If, however, besides I/J or besides V/U there is also a W, or a J instead of I, then this needs to be explicitly mentioned.

Example

When W is used in a series, it is separated from this series:

A-V¹² W¹² X-Y¹² Z⁶

• A distinction is made between series signed in capital letters or in lower case.

Example
A-D⁸ a-g⁸

• Repeats are indicated by a preceding number in superscript.

Example
A-D^{8 2}A-F⁸

• In the 'mother description' of incorporates, the series are separated by a comma.

Examples

In the mother description: A-D⁸ a-g⁸, ²A-F^{8 2}a-k⁸

In the daughter description: A-F⁸ a-k⁸

• Different signatures in the prelims or the end matter are named separately.

Example
*⁸ §-2§⁸ ?⁸ A-G⁸

• If, within a signed series, a character is used more than once, the quire signature of the gathering in question is preceded by respectively the Greek letter π (prelims) or the Greek letter χ (body and end matter) in superscript. This may occur because of a calculation error, a misprint, or because a piece of text was added in between. When one gathering is 'doubled' as such, this notation is preferred. If the same quire signature is used multiple times, the gatherings are preceded in superscript by a sequential number.

Examples

^πA⁴ A-D⁴
A-D^{4 χ}D⁴ E-F⁴

A-D^{4 2}D^{4 3}D⁴ E-F⁴

• If a series is signed in Greek, the Greek letters are not transcribed: otherwise, a collation of three gatherings Α-Γ (alfa through gamma) would be noted as A-G and therefore erroneously interpreted as a series of 6 sequential gatherings. The Greeks letters are therefore retained. When necessary, the situation is explained in a general note.

Examples

Α-Γ⁴
Α-4Ξ⁸

π1 2π⁴ Α-Δ⁴ (Δ3 + ^χΔ²)

• If a series is signed in Arabic numerals, the numerals are enclosed in parentheses to aid in legibility when referring to a specific folio.

Example

(1)-(9)¹² (lacks (9)12, blank?)

See for example records STCV 12915659, STCV 12917680 or STCV 12923858

2 Simplified notation

Simplified notations are used:

• Series are amalgamated: A, B, C, etc. through Y becomes 'A-Y'
  Sequential alphabets are amalgamated into a series: A-Z, Aa-Zz, Aaa-Ttt becomes 'A-3T'. The same principle is used for signatures consisting of punctuation marks or other symbols: e.g. (??) becomes (2?), ... becomes 3., **** becomes 4*.

Attention: there is a difference between multiplied punctuation marks and 'stacked' punctuation marks e.g. 3*⁴ is a simplified notation for '***' in a gathering in-four BUT ***⁴ is a simplified notation for ⁂ in a gathering in-four!

• When a gathering is followed by a mention between parentheses (in case of additions or cancels), this is always separated from the amalgamated series and mentioned separately. However, this is not the case for the final gathering for the mentions '(lacks ..., blank?)' and '(... blank)'.

Examples

A-D⁴ E⁴ (E2 + χ1) F-G⁴ (G4 blank)

A-P⁸ Q⁸ (lacks Q8, blank?) R-V⁸

• Superfluous embellishments around the quire signatures are ignored in the collation formula. For example, parentheses around the quire signature are neglected: (A), (B), through (T) are noted as A-T. An exception to this are signatures consisting of a combination of parentheses and punctuation marks: (.) of ):( or (...) and similar. The parentheses are retained here for clarity's sake.

• In the preface and end matter, gatherings are regularly signed with other symbols. Three letters can be noted with a tilde (ã, ñ, õ). Other letters with a tilde are noted without a tilde (e.g. e, i, u). Other symbols are retained as much as possible.

Examples
*, §, ?, !, (.), ):(, ||

• Extra attention is needed when signatures are made up of punctuation marks. There are two possibilities:
  • The punctuation mark is multiplied within a single gathering (e.g. a gathering of four leaves where the first is signed '?', the second '??', the third '???' and the fourth not): in this case it is more characteristic with a form of pagination than with signatures. This gathering is therefore considered to be unsigned as far as the collation formula is concerned, but the 'signatures' may be used if necessary in the fingerprint. This is inspired by STCN-record 0056576668: a gathering in-4 in collation is marked as [A]⁴ (and therefore unsigned) but the fingerprint reads 161104 - b1 2. $ : b2 3. $ so this is clearly a similar 'punctuation-mark-signature'.
  • A fixed number of punctuation marks is used within a gathering, potentially in combination with a number to indicate the folio-order (e.g. a gathering of four leaves signed as '::', '::2', '::3' and the fourth not: in this case the gathering is considered to be signed and the notation is used in the collation formula and in the fingerprint.

• If the regular character set does not offer a solution, then the symbol is simplified and an explanatory cataloguing remark is added. The following examples serve as a model for possible simplifications. New simplifications are determined after deliberation.

+	(plus-sign) is used for all possible cross-variants
‡	(double dagger) is noted as '++'.
⁂	is noted as ***. Similarly also: (***), (...), ...
❡	(pied-de-mouche/pilcrow) is noted as 'q', with explanatory cataloguing remark
☛	(fist) is noted as 'f', with explanatory cataloguing remark
❧	(fleuron/aldus leaf) is noted as 'p', with explanatory cataloguing remark
⯈	(arrow) is noted as '>', with explanatory cataloguing remark

Attention: there is a difference between multiplied punctuation marks and 'stacked' punctuation marks e.g. 3*⁴ is a simplified notation for '***' in a gathering in-four BUT ***⁴ is a simplified notation for ⁂ in a gathering in-four!

• Mentions between parentheses are always preceded and followed by a space. The plus and minus signs ('+' and '-'), for the indication of respectively additions and cancels, are also always preceded (except if immediately after '(' or the opening of the parentheses) and followed by a space. This principle is adopted to enhance the clarity and legibility of the collation formula.

Example: f. ):(8 canceled, after f. 2+3 a f. π added
):(⁸ (- ):(8) +⁴ 2+⁴ (2+3 + π1) A-D⁴

• When two remarks need to follow each other, they are put between the same set of parentheses and separated by a semicolon.

Example
A-F⁸ (F7 blank; lacks F8, blank?)

• When after a series, the signing starts again from the beginning, this is indicated by a superscript number preceding the sign of the repeating series. Since this is not a later addition but an intentional repeat, we do not use a superscript χ in this case.

Example
A-D^{4 2}A-D⁴

• When the series is repeated, the repeat continues for the whole series and not just for the signatures that were already used. A signature in the repeated series will therefore always receive a superscript number, even if the specific signature itself had not been used yet.

Example

A-C^{4 2}A-D^{4 2}E⁶

*⁴ A-C^{4 2}A-C^{4 3}A-F^{4 2}*^{4 4}A-K⁶

3 Number of folios per gathering

• The number of folios per gathering are indicated by a superscript number following the signature. This always needs to be an even number. Only when a final gathering consists of just one folio, it is unclear whether other folios are missing or whether there never were any other folios. For this reason, such a final leaf is described as one folio (so with the number on the line, not in superscript) and not as an incomplete gathering. If there is an odd number larger than 1, we either have a defective gathering or a cancel.

Examples

A-S⁴ T² V1
A-T⁴ V⁴ (- V2)

A-V⁴ (lacks V4, blank?)

• Gatherings with regularly alternating numbers of folios can be amalgamated into a series formula, where the two numbers are given in superscript and separated by a forward slash. If there is an odd number of gatherings, the final gathering, regular or not, is mentioned separately. The first number in superscript always corresponds to the number of folios from the first gathering of the series, the second number always corresponds to the number of leaves from the last gathering of the series.

Examples

A⁴ B⁸ C⁴ D⁸ E⁴ F⁸ becomes A-F^4/8

A⁸ B⁴ C⁸ D⁴ E⁸ F⁴ G⁸ becomes A-F^8/4 G⁸

• A book consisting of bound sheets in plano (usually pasted onto strips) will get a formula such as A-V1 (and therefore not A-V¹).

4 References

• Folio references are made using a signature letter and folio number. The folio number is on the line, not in superscript. In the notes, cataloguing remarks and the copy-specific annotation, the distinction between the front and back of a folio is explicitly mentioned as 'recto' or 'verso', separated by a space from the signature letter and folio number. Conjugate folios are indicated by a full stop between the folio numbers (without repeating the signature letter), while non-conjugate folios are separated by a comma (with repeat of the signature letter). A sequence of multiple folios is noted as a series by using a hyphen.

Examples

2L4 verso
²T4 recto
A1.4
E1, E3

E1-3

• If the notes, cataloguing remarks or copy-specific annotations mention gatherings (quires), the superscript numbers that follow them to indicate the number of folios per gathering, are neglected. When necessary, the preceding superscript number is retained.

Example: gatherings mentioned in a general note

General note: Gatherings A-D are a reissue of the 1673 edition

General note: Gathering ²C has different type in some copies

5 Unsigned gatherings and folios

• Unsigned gatherings that can be named with a sign, are placed between square brackets.

Examples

A-B⁴ [C]⁴ D⁴
[A-D]⁸
[A]⁴ B-D⁴

A-D⁴ [E]1

• Gatherings signed exclusively by rising numbers are considered to be unsigned. The numbers are used for the fingerprint, however, with an explanation in the cataloguing remarks.
• In exceptional cases, complete works or large parts of a work are unsigned. We then attempt to establish, by way of other elements (binding method, catchwords, ...), what the collation formula might be. The gatherings are indicated by [A], [B], and so on. When it's impossible to determine an exact formula, the field for collation formula remains empty. The situation is explained in a general note. Single-sheet prints (broadsides) are often unsigned and the collation is then given as "[A]1".
• Added unsigned leaves and gatherings in the prelims are indicated by the Greek letter π (pi). Added leaves and gatherings in the body matter are indicated by the Greek letter χ (chi), even if the contents are of a prelim nature. Repeats of π and χ are indicated by a preceding number on the line. The first time that π and χ are mentioned in the quire structure, they do not receive such a preceding number. Separately added leaves are described as a leaf (so with the number on the line). The number of leaves per gathering is, also by unsigned gatherings, given by a following number in superscript (always even). For loose folios, the number '1' is on the line. A second unsigned leaf or gathering is considered to be an continuation of the series and thus receives an preceding number on the line.

Example
π1 §⁴ 2π⁴2§⁴ A-D⁴ χ² E⁴ 2χ1 F⁴

• If the last leaf of a gathering is folded back to form the engraved title page or frontispiece, that leaf is then considered an unsigned added leaf. The gathering then lacks the last leaf.

Examples

π1 §⁴ (- §4) 2§⁴ A-D⁴

π1 A⁸ (- A8)

• If the first or last leaf of an unsigned gathering of two leaves is blank, regardless of the actual situation in the copy at hand, this is assumed to be folded in the most 'natural' manner. This means that for a first unsigned gathering the blank leave is supposed to be folded preceding the printed leaf and for a final unsigned gathering the blank leaf is supposed to be folded following the printed leaf.

Example
π² (π1 blank) A-Q⁶

• If an unsigned gathering of two leaves, of which one is blank, is followed by only one signed gathering, we assume the natural binding method to be as follows:

Example
π² (π1 + A⁴; π2 blank)

If it is an unsigned gathering of two leaves, both printed, and clearly a cover around a number of signed gatherings, it is also noted this way.

Example
π² (π1 + A-C⁴)

• An unsigned loosely added leaf of errata is kept out of the collation and is mentioned in a general note:

Some copies with additional list of errata

Outline of additions of unsigned gatherings and leaves

.	Prelims: π		Body matter: χ
.	Folio	Gathering	Folio	Gathering
Inside gathering	§8 (§2 + π1) A-D4	§8 (§2 + π2) A-D4	A-D4 E4 (E2 + χ1) F-G4	A-D4 E4 (E2 + χ2) F-G4
Outside gathering	§8 π1 *4 A-D4	§8 π2 *4 A-D4	A-D4 χ1 E-F4 2χ1 G2	A-D4 χ2 E-F4 2χ4 G2

• If there are multiple unsigned folios added in a systematic manner, it could be clearer to not include them in the collation formula but in a general note, for better surveyability.

Example

Not: *⁴ χ1 A-D¹² E¹² (E7 + 2χ1) F-H¹² I¹² (I3 + 3χ1) K-M¹² N¹² (N5 + 4χ1) O-Q¹²

But: *⁴ A-Q¹² with in a general note: '4 plays, each with an inserted title page'

6 Addition of signed gatherings and folios

• If an added folio (or added folios) is numbered in the sequence of the preceding folio, then the quire signature is cited. A conjugate unsigned folio is mentioned between square brackets.

Examples

A⁸ (A4 + ^χA5) B-D⁸
A⁸ (A4 + ^χA5.6) B-D⁸

A⁸ (A4 + ^χA5.[6]) B-D⁸

• If multiple folios (a gathering) are not numbered sequentially, but start numbering again from 1, then they are described as a separate gathering (with number in superscript), even if the following folios are unsigned.

Examples

A⁸ (A5 + ^χA²) B-D⁸

A⁸ (A5 + a²) B-D⁸

7 Removals and losses

The collation formula represents the quire structure from an ideal copy. If an individual copy has incidental missing leaves or additional leaves, this is silently corrected in the collation formula. The same holds true for mistakes by the binder. These two cases of copy-specific information (incomplete copies and binding mistakes) are recorded in a copy-specific annotation.

• If at the end of a copy, which is the first to be described for an edition, one or more leaves or gatherings are missing, the collation formula is given in as far as is possible, followed by the explicit wording '(the rest is missing)'. Beware: in the field of the quire structure we use round brackets (parentheses) for this remark, as opposed to the pagination field where square brackets are used.

Example
A-P⁴ (the rest is missing)

• If the last leaf of a work is missing and is probably blank, this is mentioned with a question mark at the end of the collation formula between round brackets (parentheses).

Examples

A-E⁴ (lacks E4, blank?)

A-D⁸ E⁴ (lacks E4, blank?)

• If the final gathering consists of just a single leaf, it is unclear whether other leaves are missing or whether there never were any other leaves. For that reasons, such a final leaf is described as a single folio and not as an incomplete gathering.

Example
A-D⁸ E1

• If it can be determined first hand (de visu) that a final leaf is definitely blank, this is mentioned explicitly. The same holds true for a final bifolium (= final gathering with just 2 folios), of which the last folio is blank.

Examples

A-D⁸ E⁴ (E4 blank)

A-D⁸ E² (E2 blank) and so in this case not 'E1'!

• If a leaf is missing which is supposed to be missing in the ideal copy (a cancel), this is indicated by a minus sign immediately after the specific gathering.

Example
A⁸ (- A8) B-D⁸)

• If in an ideal copy a gathering is supposed to be missing (for example due to a mistake of the typesetter/composer in the signatures), a general note can indicate that the book is actually complete.

Example: gathering F is supposed to be missing

A-E⁴ G⁴

General note: 'Complete'

• If the entire text of a work consists of just one leaf (printed on both sides), the collation is always A1 or [A]1, regardless of whether there is a blank [A]2 attached. A potential blank [A]2 can be mentioned in the copy-specific information, if present.
• If a sizeable part of the publication is missing, making it impossible to reconstruct the ideal copy, then the actual situation of the specific copy is given for the time being, and missing parts are mentioned after the collation formula.

Missing pages or folios

• A combination of cancels and additions, that does not alter the extent of a gathering, is not mentioned separately, unless perhaps in a general note. If the extent of a gathering does change, then cancels are explicitly mentioned.

Example
A-B⁴ (- B3, + *²) C⁴

8 Multiple signatures in one gathering

• The description starts as much as possible from the actual physical situation. If a gathering in a quarto book is signed as [A1] A2 A3 [A4] B[1] [B2], but A1 is conjugate with B2, A2 with B1 and A3 with A4, and the only binding thread is between A3 and A4, then the collation is not A⁴ B², but is A⁶, with a cataloguing remark: 'A5 signed as 'B'.'
• If within a larger series multiple gatherings are apparently amalgamated or shrunk to one gathering (of normal or abnormal extent) with multiple signatures - which does form a whole - then this is expressed in the collation by way of a slash. The actual situation can be further explained in the field of cataloguing remarks.

Examples

Quire structure: A-D⁸ E/F/G⁸ H-K⁸
Cataloguing remarks: Gathering E/F/G: E1-E2, F1-F2, G1-G4

Quire structure: A/B¹⁰ C-P⁴

Cataloguing remarks: Gathering A/B: A1-A4, B1-B6, with the binding thread between B1 and B2

• In the transition between prelims and body matter, it may happen that one gathering has different signatures.

Examples: signatures in the first gathering with two different symbols (* and A)

[*1] *2 *3 A4 A5 [A6] [A7] [A8]

[*1] *2 *3 A1 A2 [A3] [A4] [A5]

If in such a case, the transition between the different signatures coincides with the division as regards content, then the prelims are considered a separate bibliographical part (and thus present in the fingerprint with the indicators 'a1' and 'a2'). For both examples given above, the collation formula then becomes:

*/A⁸ B-D⁸

If there is no boundary as regards content in the transition between the different signatures, then the first (diverging) signature indication is considered an irregularity and the fingerprint receives only the body matter indicators 'b1' and 'b2'. For both examples above, the collation formula then becomes:

A-D⁸

In both cases, the actual situation is explained in the cataloguing remarks.

9 Unsigned plates and folding leaves outside collation

• Illustrations outside collations are not mentioned in the collation formula but are given after the collation formula between round brackets (parentheses). If possible, the number of leaves is indicated.

Example
A-F^{8 2}A-C⁴ (and 13 engraved f.)

An engraved title page and frontispiece are always mentioned in the collation formular, even if they do not contain any typography and are added as separate folios. On the other hand, an author's portrait that is added is not mentioned in the collation formula.

• Engravings, maps and tables on which there is typographical text as well, are always found in the collation formula.
• An unsigned folding plate outside collation, which is larger than the usual pages and needs to be folded to fit within the book block, is mentioned after the collation formula: 'A-D⁴ (and [...] folding plates)' with as copy-specific annotation 'With [...] engravings outside collation'.
• If there are multiple leaves that are systematically spread, then a general note may mention where these are supposed to be placed in the work, for example 'with engraved folios/folding plates at the beginning of each chapter'.
• Plates outside collation are obviously also indicated by the use of keyword t020 'Illustrations outside collation (prelims excepted)' and the corresponding copy-specific annotation 'With [...] engraved folios/folding plates'. If the copy at hand lacks certain plates, then the copy-specific annotation should include the mention 'With [...] engraved plates' (where the number is smaller than the number of plates in the ideal copy) or <INC> lacks all plated outside collation' or, if the plates are numbered, '<INC> lacks plates number x and x'.
• Plates inside collation are obviously not mentioned separately in the collation formula (they are indicated nevertheless by use of the typographical keywords).

10 Collections of engravings

Selection criteria

• Collections of engravings, such as atlases or writing books, are only described if they have a typographical title page. In the absence of quire signatures, the format is mentioned whenever possible, but no collation formula is given. Instead, the field for quire structure contains a mention of '[...] engraved f.' or '[...] engraved f. with typographical text' if the engraved folios contain typography. The number of folios is noted if this can be determined with certainty.

• If a collection of engravings also occurs as part of another work, this is noted immediately following the collation formula of that work as 'and [...] engraved f.'. In that case, a connection is made between both descriptions of the type 'Incorporates/Part of'.

• The collation formula for atlases is often so specific and complex that this falls outside of the scope of a normal STCV-description. We try to describe the atlas as a normal book with a normal collation formula, in as far as this is possible. Alongside that, we reference Koeman, C. Atlantes Neerlandici, second edition. If there are a great number of engravers, designers and illustrators, etc. mentioned by name, we only mention those for the author's portrait, engraved title page, etc. but we ignore those responsible for the maps.

11 Printed covers

A printed cover is not mentioned in the collation formula.