Question about Books

S

swimnfit

Cathlete
Ok...I know this is a weird question but I figured there must be someone who knows this. What do the string of numbers mean on the back side of the title page of a book? You know, that page where the published date is, and the disclaimer that "this is a fictitous book, any resemblance to actual people or events is coincidental". Somewhere near the bottom is a string of numbers? What on earth do they mean? I just opened up a book that my sister in law let me borrow and I happen to notice it. Now it's really bugging me!

Thanks!
Nicole :)
 
I think, I am not sure, that they are the numbers that show where the book is located in the Library of Congress. Isn't that the name of the huge library in Washington ,DC?

I remember reading that somewhere when I was in high schoool.

I hope that is the correct anwser. Anyone else?
 
Ok Nicole. Now, I'm really worried about you. Actually, now I'm really worried about finding "these numbers." My word. I won't be able to sleep unless I can find a set of "these numbers."


Just kidding with ya. Believe me. My co-workers still wonder about my abstract thoughts too, all the time & they have known me for like 4 years!

Marla
 
Ok Marla and Renee...I got it figured out...so we can all relax!

I kept trying to do searches on Google last night and found out it has to do with the number of printings. (All of you librarians and authors out there I'm sure are just laughing your heads off, but Oh Well!) The string of numbers or number line in the book I was looking at read like this: 50 49 48 47 46. The last number in the string indicates the printing of this book, hence this is the 46th printing. If the last number is a 1 , then it is a first printing, which is a big deal to a book collector I guess.

So, mystery solved! Don't you just hate it when you find little stupid things that you don't know and just have to find out! Whew! Much better now.

Thanks!
:D Nicole
 
I've wondered for a long time what (sic) meant after a word. Ann Rule uses this a lot in her books. No one I ask knows but I think it means something like "spelling incorrect" because it comes after a word that looks mispelled.

Can someone help me?
 
Hi!

I did a quick search on google and found this definition of sic:

"sometimes found in brackets within a printed quotation to show that the original has been quoted accurately even though it contains an apparent error"

Does that sound like it could be the possible explanation?

:)
Nicole
 
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