Medieval MSS

1. Is there any difference between medieval and modern in respect to msDesc

Can use MsDesc for modern manuscripts and non-manuscript materials, but it is often difficult. Suggestion of text-bearing object instead of manuscript, or taking the msDesc elements up a level. Or grouping them with elements introduced to cope with other subsets of text-bearing objects.

Incunabula suggested as an area where non-ms materials have very similar concerns to manuscripts. Yet people are sometimes unwilling to use msDesc for this.

'author' not allowed inside 'p' or 'head', msItem to be used instead. Not to be used in the way used in MASTER. Stops reduplication of information.

When describing a manuscript it should be recommended practice to supply the units (currently optional) But don't use nautical miles.

'support' could possibly be a phrase-level element instead of 'watermark', and 'watermark' only allowed as a child of it.

example of encoding of 'stamp' inside 'rubric' is silly, not really a phrase-level thing. Maybe better to be in 'provenance' or 'bindingDesc' somewhere. 'stamp' should not appear where text is being transcribed but the guidelines claim just this.