To sum up, then, make a title-reference when the author’s name is common, the title memorable, or the subject obscure.
86. Make a catch-word reference or references—
_a._ For all anonymous works which admit of it, if their subject does not appear distinctly from the title. To be made to the author if known, otherwise to the first word.
_Ex._ «Scarlet» gowns, True and exact account of the. _See_ «True». Here «Cardinals» is the subject, but the word does not occur in the title; «True» is the first word and is therefore taken for the heading; but «Scarlet» gowns is a phrase very likely to remain { 44} in the memory of anyone who had seen the title, and therefore the reference is made. Books published under a comparatively unknown pseudonym should have either a first-word or a catch-word reference, unless their subject-entry can be easily inferred from the title.
_b._ For other works which are likely to be inquired for not under the first word but under the catch-word of the title. To be made to the author.
_Ex._ The fac-simile of the «Laurentian» ms. of «Sophocles» might be spoken of or referred to as “The «Laurentian» ms.” simply.
It is not easy to decide when to make such entries nor how many to make. “An account of the baronial mansions of England in the olden time” may be asked for as “Baronial halls” or as “English baronial halls” or perhaps as “Mansions of the olden time.” If references are made from all possible headings which might occur to an inaccurate memory, there will be no end to the catalogue.
87. Make a subject-word entry for all anonymous biographies and works of a biographical character. (See § 68, note 3.)
_Ex._ «Cromwell», Oliver. PERFECT politician, The; life of Cromwell. London, 1681. 8º.
— TREASON’S masterpiece; or, Conference between Oliver and a committee of Parliament. London, 1680. 8º.
For greater security this latter ought to have also a first-word reference.
_a._ For all anonymous works which admit of it, to the author if known, otherwise to the first word.
When the subject-word is the same as the heading of the subject-entry this reference need not be made; but it will not do to omit an important title-entry when there are many titles under the subject-heading or they are much subdivided, so that it would be difficult to find the title-entry there. Thus an anonymous book, “France and the Pope,” would no doubt have a subject-entry under some subdivision of «France», but as this in a large catalogue would be little help towards finding the book, it should also have a reference among the titles which follow the subject «France». Of course if there were only a dozen titles under France one entry would be enough.