# Imprint

The imprint includes information on the production, publication, distribution and manufacture of an item and should be recorded in the [**264**](https://docs.wellcomecollection.org/library-cataloguing/9yMHsFGBXS9DDRGtdmSE/bibliographic-record/2xx#id-264-production-publication-distribution-manufacture-and-copyright-notice-r). This field can be repeated to record multiple types of information.

## Identifying the imprint

The imprint is usually located at the bottom of the title page or at the back of the book.

The location, name and date of production/publication/distribution should be recorded in a [**264**](https://docs.wellcomecollection.org/library-cataloguing/9yMHsFGBXS9DDRGtdmSE/bibliographic-record/2xx#id-264-production-publication-distribution-manufacture-and-copyright-notice-r), in that order.

Information should be transcribed as written on the item, with clarification in square brackets if necessary.

### Places

Transcribe any place names as written in the item, including any associated words or phrases, such as 'in London', or 'Printed at Walpole, Newhampshire'. Include all place names in the order they are recorded in the item.

If the place name is an older form of place name, transcribe as written and provide the modern place name in square brackets, e.g. 'Christiana \[Oslo]'.

{% hint style="success" %}
[Orbis Latinus](https://www.columbia.edu/acis/ets/Graesse/contents.html) is an online database of Latin place names which gives you the English form

The [CERL Thesaurus](https://data.cerl.org/thesaurus/_search) contains place names in Latin, older/variant forms and fictitious place names
{% endhint %}

### Names and roles

If there is more than one production/distribution statement (e.g. a publisher and a bookseller), record each of these in a separate [**264**](https://docs.wellcomecollection.org/library-cataloguing/9yMHsFGBXS9DDRGtdmSE/bibliographic-record/2xx#id-264-production-publication-distribution-manufacture-and-copyright-notice-r) (with appropriate indicators). Use second indicator **`1`** for publication (e.g. publishers), second indicator **`2`** for distribution (e.g. booksellers) and second indicator **`3`** for manufacture (e.g. printers). 

{% hint style="warning" %}
The roles of publishers, booksellers and printers were not always clearly distinct from each other in the early printing period. If it is unclear whether a bookseller or printer is also a publisher, presume that they are and record the information in a 264 with second indicator 1. Always transcribe the information as written on the item, even if assuming a 'bookseller' is a 'publisher'.
{% endhint %}

If there are multiple of the same roles recorded (e.g. two publishers), these can be recorded in the same 264.

There are some key terms that can help identify different roles recorded in an imprint:

<table><thead><tr><th>Term</th><th width="281">Meaning</th><th>Role</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>Apud</td><td>Printed among/at the house of</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Ex officina typographica</td><td>Out of the printing office of</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Haeredem/haeredes</td><td>Heir/heirs of</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Per</td><td>Through</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Imprime</td><td>Printed</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Printed by/for</td><td></td><td>Publisher</td></tr><tr><td>Sold by/for/at</td><td></td><td>Bookseller</td></tr><tr><td>Impensis</td><td>At the cost of</td><td></td></tr></tbody></table>

{% hint style="success" %}
The [British Book Trade Index](https://hcmc.uvic.ca/project/bbti/index.html) is a good resource to help identify people working in the book trade in Britain. Please note this resource is a static site and is not currently being updated.
{% endhint %}

### Dates

Transcribe the date as written on the item, providing explanation in square brackets if necessary. Include any related text such as "in the year" or "anno".

Dates will often be in Roman numerals. Transcribe these as written in the item and provide Indo-Arabic numerals in square brackets.

Some early printed books will have 'old style' dates, i.e. dates using the Julian as opposed to the Gregorian calendar.

## No imprint

If there is no production, publication, distribution or manufacture information provided within the item, supply the information from another source such as a bibliography and provide a note in a [**500**](https://docs.wellcomecollection.org/library-cataloguing/9yMHsFGBXS9DDRGtdmSE/bibliographic-record/5xx#id-500-general-note-r) field explaining the source of information.

## False imprints

Some early printed books will have false imprints to avoid legal ramifications of, for example, censorship or piracy laws. Some books will list fictitious places and publishers, e.g. 'Utopia' whilst others will list incorrect places, publishers or years.

If you know that the imprint information in the item is false or fictitious, transcribe it as written and provide clarification in square brackets. Always add a note explaining the false imprint and source of correct information.

## Edition statements

## Notes on imprint

Notes on imprint should be recorded in a [**500**](https://docs.wellcomecollection.org/library-cataloguing/9yMHsFGBXS9DDRGtdmSE/bibliographic-record/5xx#id-500-general-note-r) field.

Where relevant, the following notes should always be included:

* Source of information (if not title page or colophon)
* Information recorded in a different order (i.e. note if the item lists publication/distribution/manufacture information not in place, name, date order)
* False or fictitous imprint