120.—Another style of catalogue often seen is demy octavo in size, printed across the page in long primer with “Clarendon” or “De Vinne” subject-headings and brevier notes and contents. This is a very effective form for a class-list or for the first catalogue of a new library, as it has the advantage of giving an imposing appearance to the catalogue, no matter how poor the collection of books is. Of course it is much easier to read and altogether gives a better page, but it adds considerably to the bulk and cost of the catalogue, besides giving the printer more “fat,” as the white or unprinted portions of the page are called. This style is preferable for the reference library, where the size of the catalogue is unimportant, as it has not to be carried about.
There are variations from these sizes and types ranging from a super royal octavo and crown quarto down to duodecimo, with type from small pica to nonpareil. The number of copies in the edition depends upon the number or probable number of purchasers of the catalogue during a given term of years, local circumstances alone deciding in this matter.
121.—Before sending out a specification for printing estimates, it is a safer, more satisfactory, and fairer plan to all concerned to have a specimen page set up, containing in it all the types to be used in something near their proportionate quantities. The cost of such a page is trifling, but the librarian then knows precisely what he is asking for and what to expect, and the printer better understands what he is tending for. All other points it is thought are included in the following illustrative specification, which is not taken from that of any particular library, but embodies concisely what are considered to be the best features of several specifications.
Corporation of Lambwell.
Specification for Printing the Public Library Catalogue.
The Committee of the Free Public Library invite tenders for printing a catalogue of their Lending Library upon the following conditions:
Edition and Size.—The edition to consist of three thousand copies, royal octavo in size (say 9¼ × 6 when bound).
Paper.—To be at least 30lbs. to the ream, of good finish, white, uniform in tint throughout.
Type and Setting.—Old-style brevier, with occasional small capitals, italics, and clarendon or antique, with nonpareil for notes and contents, and the proper accented letters in foreign languages. To be set solid, two columns to the page, seventy lines to the column, each fifteen ems wide, with double division rules between. Turnover lines to be indented two ems, the repeat dash to be a one em rule, the class-letter and number to stand clear four ems, the nonpareil indent to be two ems. Spaces between the end of the book-entry and the class-letter to be filled with leaders. The type must not be worn or broken, and must be free from wrong founts.
Machining.—The sheets to be well worked in perfect register, with good ink, and afterwards rolled or pressed.