G-45. Analytical Bibliography

Stephen Tabor

An introduction to techniques for recognizing and understanding the traces preserved in printed books of the hand-press period which give evidence of the methods of their manufacture. Besides revealing details of early printing technology, analytical bibliography can uncover facts about now-lost manuscripts that served as copy for the typeset texts. Topics covered in this course may include skeleton formes, press figures, type recurrence, chainlines and watermarks, standing type and multiple impositions, shared printing, woodcut and type wear, and the use and limitations of facsimiles and collation aids. Although provenance and bookbinding evidence will be out of scope, we may give some attention to post-publication alterations of individual copies that can confuse interpretation. Our approach will be practical rather than academic, with emphasis on observation rather than lectures. The week will begin with an intensive hands-on session with RBS printing equipment, covering typesetting, imposing, and other pressroom practices. With this experience as a foundation, the remaining sessions will draw on original materials (when possible) and photocopies as sources for investigation.

The course will assume some familiarity with historical bibliography and book anatomy (see the reading list). Although none of the other RBS courses in bibliography (the G series) are prerequisite, G-45 will rely to some extent on the vocabulary and collation formulary which are developed by the others in much greater depth. Graduates of any of those courses should expect a bit of overlap, but will have a valuable leg up on the topics to be discussed. G-45 will not attempt to rigorously teach or critique styles of description. Rather, it will explore features not normally treated in bibliographies, but more often developed at article- or book-length.

In their personal statement, prospective applicants should describe any experience they have had with hand-typesetting and printing. This information will be useful in planning the course.

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