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Chapter XI: Autograph Terminology.
Begin to learn the criteria used by professional autograph dealers
when describing a signature, letter or document. It’s learning
the tools of the trade. When you see a description know the difference
between an “L.S.” verses an “A.L.S.” You
need to understand what “n.d” or “n.y” or
verso verses recto means. In my opinion the very best source
for this is a pamphlet produced by the Manuscript Society in
1990 edited by Norman F. Boas. Some dealers catalogs also may
have an abbreviated version of this printed in the beginning
of each catalog. If you don’t learn how to properly read
a dealers description, you may end up getting something different
than you had hoped for.
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- In autograph terminology the following abbreviations
are used to describe the type signed letter or document that
is being offered:
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- AD: Autograph Document (hand-written by the person
to be collected, but not signed)
- ADS: Autograph Document Signed (written and signed
by same individual)
- AL: Autograph Letter (hand-written by the person
to be collected, but not signed)
- ALS: Autograph Letter Signed (hand-written and
signed by same individual)
- AMs: Autograph Manuscript (hand-written; such as
the draft of a play, research paper or music sheet)
- AMsS: Autograph Manuscript Signed (hand-written
and signed by same individual)
- AMusQs: Autograph Musical Quotation Signed (hand-written
and signed by same individual)
- AN: Autograph Note (much shorter than a letter)
- ANS: Autograph Note Signed (hand-written and signed
by same individual)
- AQS: Autograph Quote Signed (hand-written and signed
by same individual; poem verse, sentence, or bar-of-music)
- DS: Document signed (printed, or while hand-written
by another, is signed by individual sought to be collected)
- LS: Letter Signed (hand-written by someone else,
but signed by the individual sought to be collected)
- PS: Photograph Signed or Postcard Signed
- SIG: Signature
- SP: Signed Photograph
- TLS: Typed Letter Signed
- TNS: Typed Note Signed
- folio: A printer's sheet of paper folded once to
make two leaves, double quarto size or larger.
- octavo(8vo): A manuscript page about six-by-nine
inches. (Originally determined by folding a printer's sheet of
paper to form eight leaves.)
- quarto(4to): A manuscript page of about nine and
one-half by twelve inches. (Originally determined by folding
a printer's sheet of paper twice to form four leaves.)
Chapter XII: Autograph Education (Continued)
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