The cataloguer's troubles do not end when the, to him, vexatious styles of names referred to in the previous pages are settled. He has to decide for himself the somewhat difficult question of entry under pseudonyms or real names when known, or under married or maiden names when both have been used by women authors.
These classes come into the same division as changed names, though the standard codes of rules make different recommendations, some to enter by the real name, others by the pseudonym, but most are in favour of the latter.
The A.L.A. and L.A. Joint-Code rule is to "enter under the pseudonym of a writer when the real name is not known," which is another way of saying "enter under the real name when known."
A great deal of attention has from time to time been paid to this subject by librarians. Some years ago the whole tendency was to hunt in all places, likely or unlikely, in the hope of discovering the real name of an author who used a pseudonym, and, when the search was successful, of getting it into print as soon as possible. A librarian thereby may have scored by being ahead of his fellows with the information, and the user of the catalogue may have acquired knowledge, though possibly he did not want it, especially if it involved looking up two references instead of one. The tendency is now somewhat in the other direction, and it may safely be said that, except for some excellent reason, the entries should be given under the pseudonym, rules or no rules. It may reasonably be contended that the better-known, whether it be the pseudonym or the real name, is the right one for the entry, as being the more reasonable and satisfactory. Should there be any doubt which is the better known, then it is "a mistake on the right side" to enter under the real name of the author.
There is a little variation in the styles of printing such entries in a catalogue. Some give them after this manner
Annunzio, Gabriele d', pseud. (i.e. Gaetano Rampagnetto).
The triumph of death.
Others print the assumed name in italics, as
Dale, Darley, pseud. (Francesca M. Steele).
Seven sons; or, the story of Malcolm and
his brothers.
while others put it shorter still, without any loss of clearness as to meaning
"France, Anatole" (A. François Thibault.) Le
livre de mon ami.