Notes - Bibliographical variants (500 sometimes in combination with 590)

Sometimes a single bibliographic record is used to record significant bibliographical variants. Sharing the same record is permissible if the transcription of the 245-300 matches for the variants. Separate records may be created if this is warranted, and would be appropriate if there were several distinct variants, each with several copies. Different editions (i.e. settings of type) should in general have separate bibliographical records even if the description of 245-300 matches. When significant bibliographical variants share the same record, the distinguishing characteristics of known variants are recorded in general 500 notes with copy specific 590 notes indicating the variant represented by each copy.

An example of a single bibliographical record used to record significant bibliographical variants is that for the 1930 printing by D.B. Updike of the standard ed. of the 1928 Book of common prayer of the Episcopal Church. Most copies were printed on paper, but a small number were printed on vellum. The paper and vellum issues had different colophons, but identical title and pagination.