Catchwords that appear in the manuscripts of amateur scribes may serve a similar function, but may also be a decorative element introduced to give the manuscript a more professional look. In manuscripts produced by multiple professional scribes, catchwords were provided at the ends of quires to assure that the finished product would be assembled in the correct order.
It has since been expanded and adapted.Īutograph A manuscript in an author's hand that includes the author's signature Bifolium A large sheet of paper folded in half and resulting in a four-page 'booklet.' Catchword A word at the bottom of a page in a manuscript or print book indicating the first word of the following page. The basis for this article was first composed as part of the Folger Institute's 2005 Summer Institute A Manuscript Miscellany, directed by Steven W. For related articles, consult Manuscripts (disambiguation).
