G-30. Bibliographer's Toolkit: Printed Books since 1800

Tom Congalton & Katherine Reagan

This course is aimed at librarians, booksellers, collectors, scholars, and others who seek an introductory understanding of how to recognize, evaluate and describe the physical aspects of printed materials. Focusing on the post-1800 period, the course provides practical tools for the identification and analysis of books and other printed artifacts. Topics include: how to read a bibliographical description of a book; how to read and interpret dealer and auction descriptions; how to distinguish between edition, issue, and state; how to assess the aesthetic, market, and research potential of materials; and how to navigate the trade and institutional environments in which printed materials circulate. The course is built around hands-on interaction with RBS's rich teaching collection of books, periodicals, and related materials produced during the machine-press period.

This course is aimed at those with little or no prior experience or background in the subject. In their personal statement, applicants should describe the nature of their interest and how they expect to use what they learn.

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Course History