History of the Book in Canada

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Canadian Imprints: Field Descriptions

The records in the Canadian Imprints database have up to 27 fields. Select a field name for its description:

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Record ID

A unique number assigned to each record by the database management system to identify the record. A record can be found by searching for the Record ID using the Advanced Search. Enter the number into one of the text-entry boxes (e.g., 473) and in the pull-down list beside the text-entry box, select "Record ID."

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Author

Person(s) or organization(s) responsible for the creation of the imprint. Search for authors using the Basic Search by entering the name into the text-entry box labelled "Author." Personal names can be entered in any of these formats: Bates, Walter or Bates, W or Bates. Organization names can be entered in full or in part (e.g., Nova Scotia Philanthropic Society or Philanthropic Society). The Advanced Search can also be used to find authors by entering the name into one of the text-entry boxes and in the pull-down list beside the text-entry box, select "Author."

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Author Gender

Indicates individual author's gender (when known) using M for male and F for female. This field can be searched using the Advanced Search. Type M or F into one of the text-boxes then select "Author Gender" from the list of field names.

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Title

The primary title of the imprint. Search for a title using the Basic Search by entering the title or part of the title (e.g., A poetical essay upon baptism) into the text-entry box labelled "Keywords." Or use the Advanced Search by entering the title or part of the title into one of the text-entry boxes and in the pull-down list beside the text-entry box, select "Title."

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Related Title

Variations on the primary title of the imprint. Search for a related title using the Basic Search by entering the title or part of the title (e.g., Pinnock's first catechism for children) into the text-entry box labelled "Keywords." Or use the Advanced Search by entering the related title or part of the title into one of the text-entry boxes and in the pull-down list beside the text-entry box, select "Related Title."

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Serial Title

Title of the work if it is a serial. Search for a serial title using the Basic Search by entering the title or part of the title (e.g., Cases argued and determined in the Court of King's Bench) into the text-entry box labelled "Keywords." Or use the Advanced Search by entering the serial title or part of the title into one of the text-entry boxes and in the pull-down list beside the text-entry box, select "Serial Title."

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Editor/Compiler/Illustrator/Translator

Person(s) responsible for the editing, compilation, illustration, or translation of the imprint. Names are followed by abbreviations such as ed., comp., ill., or trans. to indicate the person's role.

Search this field using the Basic Search by entering the name (e.g., Jones, Peter) into the text-entry box labelled "Author." Or use the Advanced Search by entering the name into one of the text-entry boxes and in the pull-down list beside the text-entry box, select "Editor/Compiler/Illustrator/Translator."

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Distributor

Person(s) or organization(s) responsible for the distribution of the imprint. Statements of attribution as printed on the imprint, such as "Sold by..." or "For sale at..." are included in this field.

Search this field using the Basic Search by entering the desired text (e.g., Upper Canada Gazette Office) into the text-entry box labelled "Keywords." Or use the Advanced Search by entering the text into one of the text-entry boxes and in the pull-down list beside the text-entry box, select "Distributor."

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Edition

Edition of the work. This field can be searched using the Advanced Search by entering the edition, (e.g., 3rd) into one of the text-entry boxes and in the pull-down list beside the text-entry box, select "Edition."

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Printer/Stereotyper

Person(s) responsible for the mechanical reproduction of the work, and the address, if known. In this field, the printer or stereotyper name is transcribed exactly as it appears on the imprint (e.g., Printed and sold by S. Miles).

Search this field using the Basic Search by entering the approproiate text (e.g., S. Miles) into the text-entry box labelled "Keywords." Or use the Advanced Search by entering the text into one of the text-entry boxes and in the pull-down list beside the text-entry box, select "Printer/Stereotyper."

*Get additional tips for searching for Printers

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Printer - Authorized Heading

Standardized name of printer/stereotyper. Search this field using the Basic Search by entering the appropriate text (e.g., Munro, John) into the text-entry box labelled "Keywords." Or use the Advanced Search by entering the name into one of the text-entry boxes and in the pull-down list beside the text-entry box, select "Printer - Authorized Heading."

The following is the authority list used in this field. When searching this field, enter the text as it appears here for best search results.

Acadian Magazine Office
Avery, W.L.
Belcher, C.H.
Cameron, D.A.
Chubb, Henry
Colonial Patriot Office
Cunnabell, J.S.
Cunnabell, William
Cunningham, H.H.
Durant, William
Free Press Office
Haszard, James Douglas
Holland, P.J.
Howe, Joseph
Lane, James
Lugrin, George K.
Mower, Nahum
Munro, John
Neilson, John
Nouvelle Imprimerie
Novascotian Office
Simpson, John
Spike, James
Wright, George J.

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Place of Printing/Publication

Place where the imprint was printed/published. This field includes the full name of the province or territory, followed by the name of the city or town. Search this field using the Basic Search by entering the location (e.g., Prince Edward Island) into the text-entry box labelled "Keywords." Or use the Advanced Search by entering the text into one of the text-entry boxes and in the pull-down list beside the text-entry box, select "Place of Printing/Publication."

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Publisher

Although publisher names are often not included on pre-1840 imprints, when they are known, the name of the person(s) or organization(s) who published an imprint will be included in this field. When no publisher is known, this field contains [s.n.]. Search this field using the Basic Search by entering the appropriate text (e.g., H.C. Thomson) into the text-entry box labelled "Keywords." Or use the Advanced Search by entering the text into one of the text-entry boxes and in the pull-down list beside the text-entry box, select "Publisher."

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Date of Printing/Publication

The year of printing or publication of the imprint. This field can be searched using the Advance Search. To find imprints published during a particular year, enter the year (e.g., 1832) into one of the text-entry boxes and select "Date of Printing/Publication" from the list of field names.

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Frequency of Serial

The publication frequency of the serial, indicated by one of the following terms:

• Annually
• Quarterly
• Monthly
• Semi-monthly
• Bi-weekly
• Weekly

This field can be searched using the Advanced Search by entering the appropriate term, (e.g., Monthly) into one of the text-entry boxes and in the pull-down list beside the text-entry box, select "Frequency of Serial."

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Number of Pages

The Number of pages in the work, including preliminaries, text pages, unnumbered pages, advertisements, plates, and blanks (e.g., 20 p.). For monographs of two (2) or more volumes, this field also includes the number of volumes followed by the total number of pages when continuous pagination is used (e.g., 2 v. (66 p.)), or separate page totals when continuous pagination is not used (e.g., 2 v. (20; 30 p.)).

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Illustration

Indicates the presence of illustrations in the imprint. Imprints with illustrations will have ill. in this field. The field is blank for imprints without illustrations. Search for illustrated works using the Advanced Search. Enter the text ill. into one of the text-entry boxes and in the pull-down list beside the text-entry box, select "Illustration."

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Size

Dimensions (height & width in cm.) of the work. Also may include the text "cut" or "uncut" when known (e.g., 32.1 x 20 cm (uncut)). This field cannot be searched.

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Format

The format of the work will be recorded using one of the following terms:

• folio
• 1 leaf
• quarter sheet
• half sheet
• 4to
• 1 sheet, verso blank
• 8vo
• 12mo
• 16mo
• 18mo

Search this field using the Advanced Search. Enter the appropriate text (e.g., 4to) into one of the text-entry boxes and in the pull-down list beside the text-entry box, select "Format."

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Serial Volume/Issue Number

First and last volume and issue numbers of the serial (e.g., V. 1, no. 1-3 (Jan-Mar 1832) 100 p.). This field cannot be searched.

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Language

The language(s) in which the text was printed and published. Most records will be for either English or French imprints although records for imprints in other languages may be included such as Latin or German. Search this field using the Advanced Search. Enter the appropriate text (e.g., English) into one of the text-entry boxes and in the pull-down list beside the text-entry box, select "Language."

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Bibliographical Sources

Details concerning any bibliographical souces used for creating the record. Search this field using the Advanced Search. Enter the appropriate text (e.g., A Dictionary of Toronto Printers) into one of the text-entry boxes and in the pull-down list beside the text-entry box, select "Bibliographical Sources."

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Location

National Library of Canada code for the institution holding a copy of the imprint. Search this field using the Advanced Search. Enter the appropriate code (e.g., CaNBSAM) into one of the text-entry boxes and in the pull-down list beside the text-entry box, select "Location."

Search for the following institutions using the National Library of Canada location Code in the first column:

Abbreviations	Description
CaACG	Glenbow-Alberta Institute, Calgary
CaBVAS	Simon Fraser University, Burnaby
CaBVAU	University of British Columbia, Vancouver
CaBVIP	Legislative Library, Victoria
CaNBMOU	Université de Moncton
CaNBS	Saint John Regional Library
CaNBSAM	Mount Allison University, Sackville
CaNBSM	New Brunswick Museum, St. John
CaNSH	Halifax Regional Library
CaNSHD	Dalhousie University, Halifax
CaNSHL	Nova Scotia Legislative Library, Halifax
CaNSHP	Nova Scotia Archives and Records Management, Halifax
CaNSWA	Acadia University, Wolfville
CaOGU	University of Guelph
CaOH	Hamilton Public Library
CaOHM	McMaster University, Hamilton
CaOKQ	Queen's University, Kingston
CaOKQENG	Engineering and Science Library, Queen's University, Kingston
CaOLU	University of Western Ontario, London
CaOOA	National Archives of Canada, Ottawa
CaOONL	National Library of Canada, Ottawa
CaOOP	Library of Parliament, Ottawa
CaOOU	University of Ottawa
CaOTAR	Archives of Ontario, Toronto
CaOTCC	United Church of Canada and Victoria University Archives, Toronto
CaOTLS	Law Society of Upper Canada, Toronto
CaOTMCL	Massey College, Toronto
CaOTMCL	Metropolitan Toronto Library
CaOTU	University of Toronto
CaOTUED	Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, University of Toronto
CaOTULS	Faculty of Information Science Library, University of Toronto
CaOTUTF	Thomas Fisher Rare Book Library, University of Toronto
CaOTV	Victoria University, Toronto
CaOTYL	Law Library, York University, Toronto
CaQMF	Fraser-Hickson Library, Montreal
CaQMBM	Bibliothèque de Montréal
CaQMBN	Bibliothèque nationale du Québec, Montreal
CaQMM	McGill University, Montreal
CaQMMRB	Rare Books and Special Collections, McGill University, Montreal
CaQMU	Université de Montréal
CaQQA	Ministre de l'Agriculture, Québec
CaQQL	Assemblé nationale du Québec
CaQQLA	Université Laval, Québec
CaQQS	Bibliothèque du Séminaire de Québec
USMN-H	Harvard University, Cambridge

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CIHM Number

The number of the microfiche when an imprint has been published by the Canadian Institute for Historical Microreproductions. Search for a particular CIHM number using the Advanced Search. Enter the number (e.g., 90766) into one of the text-entry boxes and in the pull-down list beside the text-entry box, select "CIHM Number."

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Broad Subject

A broad subject term that describes the imprint. Each record in this database has been assigned one broad subject term from the following authority list:

Commerce
Economics
Education
Government Printing
Justice
Land and Settlement
Language
Literature and the Arts
Politics
Religion
Science
Social Life
Technology
Transportation

Search for broad subjects using the Basic Search by entering one of the broad subject terms into the text-entry box labelled "Keywords." Enter the text exactly as it appears in the authority list for best search results. Or use the Advanced Search and select one of the broad subject terms from the "Broad Subject" pull-down list.

*Get additional tips for searching Broad Subjects

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Subject/Genre Terms

When more than one broad subject term describes the content of the imprint, the most appropriate term will be included in the Broad Subject field and any others will be included in the Subject/Genre Terms field. The Subject/Genre Terms field may include additional subject and genre terms as well as personal names, corporate names, or place names which describe the content of the imprint. Refer to the Subject/Genre Thesaurus (link to Canadian Imprints: Subject/Genre Thesaurus in Search Help) for more information about the subject and genre terms used in this database.

Search for subject and genre terms using the Basic Search by entering the appropriate term (e.g., Letters) into the text-entry box labelled "Keywords." Or use the Advanced Search and enter the subject or genre term in one of the text-entry boxes and select "Subject/Genre Terms" from the list of field names.

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Notes

Further explanatory information about the imprint. This field can also be used to record names, title variations, institutions, places, attribution statements, call numbers, etc. which are important to the description of the imprint but which do not appear in any other fields. Search the notes using the Basic Search by entering the appropriate text (e.g., Publisher attribution) into the text-entry box labelled "Keywords." Or use the Advanced Search and enter the text in one of the text-entry boxes and select "Notes" from the list of field names.