- First-word entry. (Anonymous works, [68]–72; Periodicals, [73], [74]; Fiction, [75]; What is a first word, [76]–80.)
- Changed titles, [81]–83.
- First-word reference. (Plays and poems, [84]; other works, [85].)
- Catch-word reference. (Anonymous works, [86] a; other works, [86] b.)
- Subject-word entry. (Anonymous biographies, [87].)
- Subject-word reference. (Anonymous works, [88] a; other works, [88] b.)
- Title-reference to corporate entries, [89].
- Title-reference from subtitles, [90].
- Double title-pages, [91].
TITLE-ENTRY.
68. Make a first-word entry for all [29] anonymous works, [30] except anonymous biographies, which are to be entered under the name of the subject of the life. [31] (If the author’s name can be ascertained insert it within brackets.)
[29] Of course there are exceptions to this rule. There are works which are always known by certain names, under which they should be entered, although the title-pages of different editions may not begin with this name, or may not even contain it. The most noteworthy example is Bible, which is the best heading—in an English catalogue—for the Bible and for any of its parts in whatever language written and under whatever title published.
This is the British Museum rule. It is of a piece with putting all periodicals under the heading Periodicals and all publications of learned societies under the head Academies. It would be much more in accordance with dictionary principles to put the separate books of the Bible each under its own name as given in the revised {39} English version (Matthew, Gospel of, not Gospel of Matthew), with all necessary references.
Under the present rule, references should be made to Bible from Testament, Old Testament, New Testament, Gospels, Apocrypha, Psalms, Pentateuch, the names of the single books, and from such well-known names as Breeches Bible, Speaker’s commentary.
In cataloguing the anonymous books of the Middle Ages, “Incipit” or “Here begyns,” or “Book the first of,” and similar phrases are not to be considered as first words. Thus the history of the Seven Sages appears under the following variety of title:
- 1. Incipit historia septem sapientū Rome. [Cir. 1475.]
- 2. In hoc opusculo sunt subtilitates septē sapientū rome valde perutiles. [Later.]
- 3. Historia septem sapientum Romæ. 1490.
- 4. Historia calumnie nouercalis que septem sapientū inscribitur. 1490.
- 5. Ludus septem sapientum. [Cir. 1560.]
And the titles of the versions are equally various:
- 1. Li romans des sept sages.
- 2. Li romans de Dolopathos.
- 3. Les sept sages de Ro
- e.
- 4. Les sept saiges de romme.
- 5. Los siete sabios de Roma.
- 6. Hieuach volget ein gar schöne Cronick v
- hystori auss denn Geschichten der Römern.
- 7. Die hystorie uan die seuen wise mannen van Romen.
- 8. Hystory of the seuen maysters of Rome.
- 9. The Hystorie of the seven wise maisters of Rome.
- 10. The sevin seages.
- 11. De siu sive mestere.