descriptive bibliography

American  

noun

Library Science.

1. the aspect of bibliography concerned with the close physical study and description of books and other works.

2. a record of such description of a given number of related works.

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Example Sentences

In their latest books, “Caravaggio’s ‘Cardsharps’ on Trial” and “Descriptive Bibliography,” each has produced a masterwork of Tacitus-like force, clarity and precision.

From Washington Post

An appendix then surveys the major contributions to the “literature of descriptive bibliography.”

From Washington Post

More technical than Spear’s narrative case-study, G. Thomas Tanselle’s “Descriptive Bibliography” is a “comprehensive guide to . . . the activity of describing books as physical objects.”

From Washington Post

She shares these materials by working individually with students and the public, and by teaching classes almost every quarter on such topics as the history of the book, descriptive bibliography, modern book arts and literature.

From Seattle Times

On a recent afternoon, the Hinman was woken up for a demonstration for the students in Advanced Descriptive Bibliography, Rare Book School's most fearsomely difficult course.

From New York Times