Although it is the duty of the cataloguer to adhere to the language of the title-page in transcribing a title, it is conceivable that the usefulness of books in foreign languages, when they consist altogether or mainly of illustrations, may be extended in popular libraries, if a free explanatory translation of the title or a note is attached to the entry, after the manner shown in the following three entries:—
Séguy, E. Les fleurs et leurs applications décoratives
[Flowers and their application in ornament].
pl. 30. fo Paris, [1903]
Rémon, Georges. Soixante planches de peintre
décorative. fo Dourdan, n.d.
Sixty plates in colour for house decoration.
Lehner, Jos., und Ed. Mader. Neue Dekorations-Malereien
im modernen Stil. pl. 60.
fo Wien, [1904]
Original ornamental designs in colour.
So far as the orthodox rules for cataloguing are concerned, it is something of a heresy to suggest that, as these books contain no text, the original titles might be ignored, and a translation alone be given if space is a consideration, but if so catalogued, they would make a larger appeal in many libraries, and, after all, books are catalogued for the purpose of ensuring that they shall be used. The entries might be
Séguy, E. Flowers and their application in ornament,
pi. 30. fo [1903]
It must be understood that this translation is not a recommendation, but is only by way of suggestion, as there are not many books similar in character. If the suggestion is adopted, it must be carried out uniformly through all entries.
Rémon, Georges. Sixty plates of decorative
painting [house]. fo n.d.
Lehner, J., and E. Mader. New painted decorations
in the modern style, pl. 60. fo [1904]
The subject entries and references required for these books are
Ornament:
Séguy, E. Les fleurs et leurs applications
décoratives. 1903
Decoration. See Ornament.
Design, Ornamental. See Ornament.
Flowers in ornament. See Ornament.
The first two references are for synonymous terms for the subject. The last is required for two reasons. Firstly, there are sure to be other books in the catalogue in which floral design will form the principal feature without any reference to flowers on the title-page; secondly, a book of the kind is better placed under the subject-word "Ornament" or whatever term is taken for the decorative arts, rather than "Flowers", to prevent it being mistaken for a work on botany or gardening.
The next book is on ornament as applied to house decoration only, and the designs are not meant for other purposes, certainly not for ornament generally, therefore the entry is