Cataloger's Reference Shelf
Graphic Materials - Rules for Describing Original Items and Historical
Collections
3A. Preliminary Rules (Physical Description Area)
3A1. The statement of physical characteristics gives:
an indication of the extent (e.g., number of physical units);
specific material designation -- an indication of the medium or format of the material (and in some cases both);
an indication of the material upon which the image(s) is printed or executed ( primary support), if significant;
an indication of the material upon which the image is mounted ( secondary support), if significant;
other details of physical description, as appropriate;
dimensions;
an indication of accompanying material.
The specific rules given below provide for aspects of exceptional physical description, as dictated by the nature of a particular medium or format. Examples in this area are intended to illustrate specific points only. Not all the elements that would be required in a full catalog record are provided in each case.
For instructions on the use of spaces before and after prescribed punctuation, see 0D.
Precede the physical description area by a period, space, dash, space (. -- ) or start a new paragraph. ( FN 1)
Precede other physical details by a colon ( : ).
Precede dimensions by a semicolon ( ; ).
Precede a statement of accompanying material by a plus sign ( + ).
Enclose physical details of accompanying material in parentheses.
Normally, an area begins with a capital letter, but in the physical description area start instead with the lower case (e.g., ca. 2,500 items).
End the physical description area with a period unless it already ends with a closing parenthesis or mark of abbreviation (e.g., cm.).
Take information for the physical description area from any source. Take explicitly or implicitly stated information from the material itself.
See also: