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Special Collections Cataloging Notebook

The 590 Copy-Specific Note

This is used whether the cataloging is DCRB, AACR2, or Core.

The form of the 590 note is as follows:

If it is necessary to distinguish between two copies with the same copy number and the same location, add the classification number after the location:
590 -- Special Collections & University Archives copy 1 (Felton Collection, PS3537 .T27O31 1975): [text of note]
590 -- Special Collections & University Archives copy 1 (Felton Collection, PS3537 .T27O31 1975 CB): [text of note]

If it is necessary to disintinguish between two copies with the same call number in the same location, begin the note for the copy with the special designation by the name of that designation:
590 -- Special Collections & University Archives copy 1: Wells Fargo Steinbeck Collection. [text of note]

The order in which copy specific elements are mentioned in the note is:

1. Copy no. of limited ed.
2. Signature appearing in all copies
3. Advertisements
4. Copy specific errata
5. Binder
6. Binding
7. Imperfections
8. Provenance
9. Matter appended
10. Bound with

1. LIMITED EDITIONS
   Always noted when found on the piece. Usually a 500 quoted note is made, with the source of the note text given. The first element of the 590 note is the number of the copy in hand. If all copies are signed by the author or illustrator, etc., that fact is noted in conjunction with the copy number and is not considered provenance.
   Examples:
   
   • Text on colophon: One hundred copies of this special edition have been printed, of which this is copy [37 added in ink].
     500 -- "One hundred copies of this special edition have been printed"--colophon.
     590 -- Special Collections & University Archives copy 1: No. 37.
     
   • Text on colophon: Fifty copies only have been printed, each signed by Robert Creeley and Jim Dine. Of these ... This is copy [36/50 added in red ink].
     500 -- "Fifty copies only have been printed, each signed by Robert Creeley and Jim Dine"--colophon.
     590 -- Special Collections & University Archives copy 1: No. 36/50, signed by author and artist.
     
2. ADVERTISEMENTS AND PUBLISHER'S CATALOGUES
   (See also the section on genre headings.)
   Genre terms which refer to a part of the item are usually only noted and traced for items published before 1 January 1901. If they are found in all copies, they are given in a 500 note; if they are copy-specific, a 590 note is used.
   Examples:
   
   • 500 -- Advertisements on t.p. verso.
   • 590 -- Special Collections & University Archives copy 1): Advertisements: p. [1]-[8] at end.
   • 590 -- Special Collections & University Archives copy 1: Publisher's catalogue: 32 p. at end.
3. ERRATA
   Always noted when present. When it is known that the errata appear in all copies, a 500 note is used. When it is clear that the errata have been added after the printing, a 590 is used.
   Examples:
   
   • 500 -- Errata: p. 508 [the entire page is errata]
   • 500 -- Errata: on p. 53 [there is other text on the page to which the errata is added]
   • 590 -- Special Collections & University Archives copy 1: Errata slip tipped in.
   • 590 -- Special Collections & University Archives copy 1: Errata slip laid in.
   • 590 -- Special Collections & University Archives copy 1: Errata on p. [1] (last sequence).
4. BINDERS
   When to note and trace:
   
   • Always noted and traced for signed bindings and binders known through binder's tickets, even if commercial;
   • Selectively noted and traced for commercial binders after 1900 identified in the piece (e.g., for Gunst or other fine press materials);
   • Always noted and traced when already established by Special Collections;
   • Noted and traced when specified by a curator or bibliographer, or at the cataloger's discretion when considered significant;
   • Traced in a 7xx field, with ,|eill. at the end. (Click on the link to see an example of a coded 7xx field.)
   Example:
   
   • 590 -- Special Collections & University Archives copy 1: Binder: Riviere & Son (stamp).
5. BINDING NOTE
   When to note:
   
   • Always described briefly for Felton;
   • Always described briefly for Gunst;
   • Always described briefly for artists' books, even if not assigned to Gunst;
   • Always described fully for specimen bindings;
   • Always described fully for very famous binders, e.g., Cobden Sanderson, Creuzvault, Rose Adler;
   • Described briefly when specified by a curator or bibliographer, or at the cataloger's discretion.
     1. Generally give: decoration, color, material, any special facts, in that order. If there is more than one facet, begin the description from the left, or spine. If the spine is of different material from the boards, describe it as quarter binding, unless it's obviously at least half the book, in which case describe it as half binding. Quarter binding plus corners done the same is also described as half binding.
     2. Labels of different material from the cover or spine are always mentioned as title label or author label or, if both are present separately on the spine, as spine labels. If both are present, mention both, but do not describe further. For modern bindings, it is assumed that they are of paper unless specified otherwise. For leather bindings, if the labels on the spine are of different leather or in distinctive panels, mention the fact, but do not give the color.
     3. Turn-ins are mentioned if present and described if distinctive. Endpapers are also mentioned if other than plain (e.g., floral, marbled), but the color is normally not specified.
     4. If the dust jacket is present, add: "with dust jacket." Describe the jacket only if requested to do so.
     5. Similarly, mention the presence of a slipcase known to be issued with the item: "in slipcase, as issued." Describe the slipcase only if necessary for identification.
     6. For paperback items, in general describe as printed, pictorial, or illustrated wrappers. If significant (i.e., designed by someone well known), describe in more detail.
     7. If an original paper cover is bound in a rebound item, always mention the fact: "original blue wrappers bound in." If the binder has included the original spine, mention that: "original cloth spine mounted on fly-leaf."
     8. Describe an item that was once bound, but is no longer, as "disbound." Describe an item that was never bound as such, without preceding the description with the word "Binding:".
     Examples:
     
     • 590 -- Special Collections & University Archives copy 1: Binding: brown cloth.
     • 590 -- Special Collections & University Archives copy 1: Binding: brown cloth, with dust jacket.
     • 590 -- Special Collections & University Archives copy 1: Binding: quarter black cloth, red cloth boards, title label on spine; with dust jacket.
     • 590 -- Special Collections & University Archives copy 1: Binding: half calf, brown marbled boards, gilt spine with leather title label.
     • 590 -- Special Collections & University Archives copy 1: Binding: red morocco with gilt stamped turn-ins and marbled endpapers; original blue wrappers bound in; in slipcase.
     • 590 -- Special Collections & University Archives copy 1: Binding: green boards. [Item has paper covered boards]
     • 590 -- Special Collections & University Archives copy 1: Binding: printed white wrappers.
     • 590 -- Special Collections & University Archives copy 1: Binding: illustrated white wrappers (included in pagination).
     • 590 -- Special Collections & University Archives copy 1: Issued unsewn in printed white wrappers.
     Binding errors are always mentioned when known, even if the binding is not described. Binder's titles are mentioned when it is necessary to justify an added entry for that title. Mention peculiarities following the description of the binding.
     Examples:
     
     • 590 -- Special Collections & University Archives copy 1: Pages 31-36 bound after p. 37-43.
     • 590 -- Special Collections & University Archives copy 1: Index bound before preface. [supposes a perfect copy is known with the index bound elsewhere]
   • IMPERFECTIONS
     Always noted when known, even if the item has not been fully collated.
     Examples:
     
     • 590 -- Special Collections & University Archives copy 1: Imperfect: p. 63-67 lacking.
     • 590 -- Special Collections & University Archives copy 1: Imperfect: t.p. mutilated with slight loss of text.
     • 590 -- Special Collections & University Archives copy 1: Imperfect: cropping affects head-lines.
     • 590 -- Special Collections & University Archives copy 1: Imperfect: closely trimmed, with slight loss of text.
     • 590 -- Special Collections & University Archives copy 1: Imperfect: lacks one plate as called for by ESTC (RLIN).
6. PROVENANCE
   Always mentioned in a 590 note, and traced in a 7xx with ,|eformer owner at the end, when the names can be deciphered.
   
   1. Provenance applies only to the piece on which evidence is found.
   2. For bound together items, if the evidence is on the cover or fly leaf, note it only in the record for the 1st item. If evidence appears on items bound after the 1st, note it only the corresponding record.
   3. For multivolume sets, evidence on v. 1 only applies to the set as a whole. When evidence is found on another volume, note which volume it appears in.
   4. Provenance is given for owners only.
   5. If the author or illustrator has signed the book, clearly not as ownership, do not treat this as provenance, but mention that the copy is signed at the beginning of the 590 note.
   6. If part of the name is indecipherable, follow it with a ? and enclose the part in question in square brackets. Trace the guessed form without the question mark.
   7. If the whole name is illegible, do not mention the provenance in the 590 note. If provenance is from an unidentified armorial bookplate, do not try to identify the owner.
   8. Give the name exactly as it appears. Street addresses are omitted and replaced with the mark of omission.
   9. Marginalia are not usually mentioned unless significant. In no case are they to be attributed to one of the known owners.
   10. Multiple ownership statements are linked with a semicolon.
   11. Search NAF for corporate headings only and use the form found there. Personal names are not searched in NAF, and no authority work is done.
   12. Sources as given in the note:
       
       • Simple handwritten signature = (signature)
       • Written name of an institution, or it is clear that the name was not written by the person whose name it is = (inscription)
       • Ink-stamp = (ink-stamp)
       • Embossed stamp = (embossed stamp)
       • Library withdrawal stamp = (withdrawal stamp)
       • Library release stamp = (release stamp)
       • Printed booklabel with no picture = (booklabel)
       • Pictorial booklabel = (bookplate)
       • Armorial bookplate = (armorial bookplate)
       • Armorial bookplate with motto = (armorial bookplate) and give motto.
       • Bookseller's labels = (bookseller's label) mentioned only if the item was published prior to January 1, 1901
   Examples:
   
   • 590 -- Special Collections & University Archives copy 1: Provenance: Luella Pringle (signature).
   • 590 -- Special Collections & University Archives copy 1: Provenance: Francisci Hotomani (signature).
   • 590 -- Special Collections & University Archives copy 1: Provenance: James [Rad?]way (signature).
   • 590 -- Special Collections & University Archives copy 1: Provenance: Monasterii Sti Joannis (inscription).
   • 590 -- Special Collections & University Archives copy 1: Provenance: G. Bruce & Son, N.Y. (ink-stamp).
   • 590 -- Special Collections & University Archives copy 1: Provenance: British Museum Library (withdrawal stamp).
   • 590 -- Special Collections & University Archives copy 1: Provenance: G. Filby, bookseller ... London (bookseller's label).
   • 590 -- Special Collections & University Archives copy 1: Provenance: armorial bookplate.
   • 590 -- Special Collections & University Archives copy 1: Provenance: armorial bookplate with motto: Vires aquirit eundo vadae.
   • 590 -- Special Collections & University Archives copy 1: Provenance: James Delaney (bookplate); considerable ms.
   • 590 -- Special Collections & University Archives copy 1: Provenance: heavily annotated and underscored.
   • 590 -- Special Collections & University Archives copy 1: Provenance: presentation inscription from Auntie Dottie to E.F. Horn.
   • 590 -- Special Collections & University Archives copy 1: Provenance: author's presentation inscription to H. Higgins.
   • 590 -- Special Collections & University Archives copy 1: Provenance: Rita Dewey (signature); Marquess of Landsdowne (armorial bookplate).
7. MATTER APPENDED NOTE
   Describe in the 590 note matter bound with the item but obviously not integral to it. Be as precise as your sources allow. Precede the description with "Appended:"
   Example:
   
   • 590 -- Special Collections & University Archives copy 1: Appended: p. 320-348 of Factors of printing, 2nd ed. New York : E. Smith, 1878.
8. BOUND WITH: NOTE
   Always appears as the last area of the 590 note, preceded by: "Bound (1st) with:," "Bound (2nd) with:," etc.
   Follow the guidelines given in AACR2r and DCRB for the construction of the note. Note especially that while only the chief title needs to be given, the whole imprint is required.
   Example:
   
   • 590 -- Special Collections & University Archives copy 1: Bound (1st) with: Dury, John. The reformed school. London : Printed for R. Wadnothe, [1650].

Last modified: October 9, 2008