Page:Notes and Queries - Series 9 - Volume 1.djvu/160

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NOTES AND QUERIES.

[9 th S. I. FEB. 19, '98.

the side or broad surface of thereover, includ- ing the four magazines mentioned by MR. FLEMING at the last reference. Thirdly, the number of books that usually lie on a table is far too limited to found a grievance on. Few if any are likely to have vertical back lettering except in the case of paper-covered periodicals, which, being lettered more read- ably on the side, could do without the back lettering so far as the reader is concerned. Fourthly, a person " seated anywhere within reading distance " cannot see, much less read, the back lettering of more than one or two books unless the others are specially placed. This last fact imposes upon him the necessity of shifting his seat if he would see all the backs, at which he might grumble with as much reason as at the way of the lettering. And I would remark in conclusion that " reading distance" ought to mean reaching distance. Others, whose sight is superior to mine, may dispute this ; but at all events the very trifling effort of moving an accidental book in order to read the back lettering is not an " enormity " that should provoke to the use of " profane language." Were a table covered with books lettered " upside down," the case would be altered ; but, as I have endeavoured to show, the presence there of any such book other than the magazine in paper cover (against which complaint is barred oy reason of the side lettering) is rare accidental, as I have just remarked. F. ADAMS.

106A, Albany Road, Camberwell.

This is a question for printers as well as bookbinders. Some years ago (1889-1894) I issued, for circulation in the colonies, a series of over one hundred volumes of " Favourite and Approved Authors." Having noticed that the stacks of the cheaper publications on the bookstalls had to be laid on their front side, that is turned upside down, in order that the titles on their backs might be read, I issued my series lettered down the backs, instead of up the backs, as is usual. E. A. PETHEEICK.

3, York Gate, N.W.

If a jury of architects were called upon to decide the question whether a word which had to be written on a plan in a vertical

fosition was to read upwards or downwards, believe they would all, without any hesita- tion, agree that the correct way was for it to read upwards, and as long as we remain right- handed I would submit that this is the correct way for all vertical writing to read. And if it should be asked how there could be a right way and a wrong way in the matter, I would reply that the natural way is the

correct one. and if any one has any doubt as to which that is, let him sit down squarely at his desk and attempt to write, let us say, " Corridor " vertically in any other way than upwards. Of course this applies to vertical titles only ; if a book from its size or cha- racter has to pass its life lying down, then a title along the length of its back becomes a horizontal one and should be treated accord- ingly but how many such invalids are there?

BEN. WALKER. Langstone, Erdington.

It is of course with much trepidation that I venture to express an opinion diametrically opposed to MR. J. B. FLEMING on this subject. When a correspondent not only uses strong language, but sneers at another who happens to have an Apostolic name ; speaks of the present almost universal method of lettering narrow-backed books from foot to head as " enormity " and as being " provocative of much profane language " and as " damnable iteration "most readers will consider him to be unreasonably earnest over a small matter. Most book -lovers and collectors with a sense of order do not allow their books to scatter on a drawing-room table, but prefer to place them on their shelves, and when there prefer them to read (with their companions) from foot to head. People who want no acrobatic feats can place them (if they wish to read their titles as they sit beside them) face downwards at their pleasure. For my part (and I find many book-loving friends with me), I am conservative enough to hope that book- binders will continue invariably to letter books, not thick enough for horizontal letter- ing, from foot to head, as heretofore.

W. HENRY KOBINSON.

Walsall.

Surely the direction of the lettering has had a different origin from that perceived by MR. FLEMING, and one that makes it quite reasonable. When such a book is up- right on a shelf, an observer inclines his head naturally to the left, not to the right, and the present custom is in agreement with this. Secondly, if lying on the table, the book is taken up with the left hand, to be opened by the right, and is so raised that the title, thus printed, is at once legible. If a magazine is lettered also on the side its back title is superfluous. W. K. G.

It is a fact worthy of notice that the Kelmscott Press, whose work is considered a criterion in matters of book-production, followed the English custom and issued Swinburne's ' Atalanta in Calydoii ' with the lettering on the back wrong side up. Possibly