FIRST LINE INDEXES:
Manuscript Poetry in the Folger Shakespeare Library and Huntington Library

Technical Note

Our microfilm and microfiche publications have been prepared and produced in accordance with recommended and established guide-lines for the production of microform of superior quality.  These conform to the recommendations of the standard guides to good microforming and micropublishing practice.

The microfilm publication of the First Line Index of Poems in Manuscript in the Folger Shakespeare Library was filmed directly from the original cards held by the Folger Library, by the reprographics department of the Library of Congress, Washington DC.  The cards have been filmed four to a frame, reading left to right, then top to bottom.

The microfiche publication of the First Line Index of Manuscript Poetry in the Huntington Library is based on a high quality photocopy of the original catalogue cards which are housed in the Manuscript Department of the Huntington Library and are in constant use.  The cards have been filmed four to a frame on 49-frame microfiche and read from top to bottom on each page and from left to right across each row.  The eye-readable headers at the top pf each fiche provide details of the range of first lines to be found on each fiche (e.g. on the second line of the first fiche the general range of A-AS is given whilst longer excerpts from the detailed entries "A ballatt… - As fortune good vayne pleasure breedes…" appear on the third line as a further guide to readers).

The majority of the cards in these indexes are typewritten and pose no problems for reproduction.  However there are some cards written in ink, whilst others have pencil and ink alterations, and these can pose greater problems for clear reproduction.  Some cards have also become marked by use.

We have exercised the most responsible care in the filming of this unique collection and this microfilm publication meets the standards established by the Association for Information and Image Management (AIIM) and the American National Standards Institute (ANSI).

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