pressmark

American  

[pres-mahrk] / ˈprɛsˌmɑrk /

noun

Chiefly British Library Science.

1. a symbol indicating the location of a book in the library.

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pressmark British  

/ ˈprɛsˌmɑːk /

noun

1. library science a location mark on a book indicating a specific bookcase

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Etymology

Origin of pressmark

First recorded in 1675–85; press ¹ + mark ¹

Example Sentences

On the second, third, or fourth leaf of a book, or thereabouts, the title was written on the bottom margin, with the pressmark and the first words of that leaf.

From Old English Libraries by Savage, Ernest Albert

Cedulario Indico" of the Archivo Histórico Nacional, Madrid; its pressmark is "Tomo 31, fol. 161b, nº.

From The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898 — Volume 06 of 55 1583-1588 Explorations by Early Navigators, Descriptions of the Islands and Their Peoples, Their History and Records of the Catholic Missions, as Related in Contemporaneous Books and Manuscripts, Showing the Political, Economic, Commercial and Religious Conditions of Those Islands from Their Earliest Relations with European Nations to the Close of the Nineteenth Century by Robertson, James Alexander

The following documents are obtained from MSS. in the Archivo general de Indias, Sevilla, the pressmark of each being thus indicated: 1.

From The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898 — Volume 20 of 55 1621-1624 Explorations by early navigators, descriptions of the islands and their peoples, their history and records of the catholic missions, as related in contemporaneous books and manuscripts, showing the political, economic, commercial and religious conditions of those islands from their earliest relations with European nations to the close of the nineteenth century. by Blair, Emma Helen

Its pressmark is: “Consejo de Inquisicion; libro 762, folio 170.”

From The Philippine Islands, 1493-1803 — Volume 05 of 55 1582-1583 Explorations by Early Navigators, Descriptions of the Islands and Their Peoples, Their History and Records of the Catholic Missions, as Related in Contemporaneous Books and Manuscripts, Showing the Political, Economic, Commercial and Religious Conditions of Those Islands from Their Earliest Relations with European Nations to the Beginning of the Nineteenth Century by Blair, Emma Helen

The full pressmark of a book was therefore A. v.

From Old English Libraries by Savage, Ernest Albert