[DCRM-L] Fists or Manicules?

[Christine Megowan]

Hello DCRM-L colleagues,

One of our cataloguers is preparing a signature statement for a book which
includes a gathering signed with a pointing hand, which prompted some
discussion within our team about the use of "fists" vs. "manicules" in
catalogue records.

DCRM(B) 7B9.2 and DCRMR 6.215.44.2 both instruct the cataloguer: "If the
gatherings are signed with other unavailable characters, substitute a
descriptive term or an abbreviation for that term if a standard
abbreviation exists." In both texts, the examples include a pointing hand
for which the descriptive term [fist] has been supplied.

If I remember correctly, "fists" was at some point the authorized term for
this character in the RBMS Provenance Thesaurus, although I see that it is
now a UF under Manicules. I have certainly encountered the term "manicules"
more frequently than "fists" when chatting with other bibliophiles.

I confess I am somewhat bothered by the idea of using one term in a
signature statement and another in a genre/form heading, but I wondered
what the prevailing opinion might be. Would you follow the example and use
[fist] in a signature statement, or favour consistency with CVRMC and go
with [manicule]?

Best wishes,
Christine Megowan
(Research Collections Discovery & Projects Manager, Heritage Collections,
University of Edinburgh)
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