How to describe an early printed book


Date and Place of Examination:                                               Library Call Number:



1. The purpose of the description


2. The date of the book:                                                                   Language(s):


3. An exact copy of the title from the title page







4. The name of the printer and publisher






5. The place of publication


6. Notes on any borders, ornaments or devices on the title page





7. The colophon (The printer's information at the end of the book)





8. Format (folio, quarto, and so on)


9. Measurements:

Overall dimensions of the paper (cm)

dimensions of the printed text

number of lines on a text page

10. Collation:

A list of the signatures which mark each gathering

number of leaves per gathering

total number of pages

11. Notes on the binding




12. Notes on illustrations, if any




13. History of ownership (if known), description of annotations and other notes