abbreviations/terms list for document collectors

[alexanderhistorical]

Now here's a list used in the autograph trade so if you are looking at an autograph dealer or auctioneer's catalog you will be able to understand the abbreviations:

A.L.S. Autograph Letter, Signed: A letter hand-written and signed by the individual noted. Has a salutation and subscription ("Dear Joe...Sincerely, Tom").
A.N.S. Autograph Note, Signed: Same as above, but very brief, perhaps only a line or two.
L.S. Letter signed: A manuscript letter in another hand, signed by the individual.
T.L.S. Same as above, but typed.
D.S. Document, signed: Self-explanatory.
A.Ms.S. Autograph Manuscript, Signed: Text written out and signed by the individual, addressed to nobody in particular, for example, a confession.
Ms.S. Manuscript, signed: Same as above, only in another hand and signed, or typed (T.Ms.S.).
A.Q.S. Autograph Quote, Signed: A quote written out and signed by the individual. May be his own quote or another person's.

Condition:

"Foxing" Light brown spots usual caused by dampness. May be light or severe.
"Browning" or "Toning" Browning is more extreme than toning, which is a darkening of the paper due to age.
"Fading" Lightening of the ink usually caused by exposure to the sun.
"Offsetting" Either a transfer of ink when a paper has been folded while the ink was still wet, or caused when paper is folded for a long time. May also mean irregular toning caused when a
piece of paper lies atop another causing uneven shades on the lower piece (ex: newspaper left in the sun with something on top of it)
"Trimmed" Edge or edges of the item have been trimmed away, usually for appearance sake. Affects value.

Hope this helps.

Bill

[Paul D]

Many thanks Bill and welcome !

[HPL2008]

Here is something quite useful. The link below is for a .pdf-file containing the scan of a list of German military abbreviations complete with their English meaning as compiled by the U.S. Miitary Intelligence Service in 1943:

http://usacac.army.mil/cac2/cgsc/car...c/number12.pdf